PARTY BRIDGE

Contract Bridge in the Home or Club

by

Marvin L. Frenchmfrench1@san.rr.com

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

RUBBER BRIDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1Rules of the Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1Keeping Score . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2Trick Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2Premium Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4The Back Score . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.6

CHICAGO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1The Chukker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1Vulnerability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1Trick Scores, Premiums, and Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2Partscores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2Deal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2Keeping Score . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3Optional Rules and Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5

GAMES FOR INDIVIDUALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1Four Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1Five Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2Six Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3Playing for Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.4Multiple Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5Two or Three Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5Four or More Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7

GAMES FOR FIXED PARTNERSHIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1One-Table Set Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1Multiple Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1Progressive Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2Swiss Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2Round-Robin Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4

MARATHONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1Conditions of Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2Food and Drink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3Prizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.4

MIXING SPORTS WITH BRIDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.1

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FOOD AND DRINK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.1

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2

IMPROVING YOUR GAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.1Bridge Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2Private Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3

RULES, ETHICS, AND PROPRIETIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.1

SOCIAL DUPLICATE BRIDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.1The Duplicate Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.1The Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.5Rules for Duplicate Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.5Bidding and Play Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.6Initial Scoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.6The Traveling Score . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.7Final Scoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.7The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.11

DUPLICATE GAMES FOR INDIVIDUALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.1Two or Three Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.1Four Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.2The Rainbow Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.2

DUPLICATE GAMES FOR FIXED PARTNERSHIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.1Doop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.2

DUPLICATE GAMES FOR TEAMS-0F-FOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.1IMP Head-to-Head Matches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.1Round-Robin Matches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.1Knockout Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.2Board-A-Match Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.2Swiss Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.3Marvin's Team Game - Six Pair Round-Robin Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.4Pair Numbers and Team Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.5Recording Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.12

CALCUTTAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.1

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR DUPLICATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.1Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.3

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INTRODUCTION

This book is for the social bridge player who wants to hold private bridge parties. Such parties canvary in size from a one-table game in the home all the way up to a many-table contest for a tennis,golf, or other social club.

Playing contract bridge in the home is a delightful way to entertain a group of friends who arefamiliar with the game. It is also a way to increase one's circle of friends. Home bridge parties arefrequently unstructured, the host(ess) having no plan as to how they should be conducted. Sometimesthere is a "tally" purchased from a stationery or book store, giving instructions for pairing a groupof individuals, but no one is sure what sort of bridge to play or how to score the results. This bookdescribes in detail many variations of party bridge, for both individuals (changing partners) and fixedpartnerships.

Clubs for tennis or golf, or both (e.g., a country club) seem to have a lot of bridge enthusiasts, foryou often see them playing informal rubber bridge games in the clubhouse. Besides the properprocedures for conducting such games, this book includes ideas for organizing club bridge partiesor even club championships.

Marathon bridge, a year-long event for cash or charity, is fully described, as are Calcutta games, inwhich contestants are auctioned off to bidders who contribute to a pool of prize money.

In these pages the reader will also find recent revisions to the laws of rubber bridge, the official rulesfor Chicago (four-deal) bridge, suggestions for food and drink, recommended equipment andsupplies, tips for improving one's game, and comments concerning rules, ethics, and proprieties.

Chapters on duplicate bridge are also included for those who wish to try this form of the game in asocial situation.

Perhaps the book is misnamed. It is aimed at those who want to play bridge at parties, not those whowant to party at bridge games. Those who attend, or hold, party bridge games merely to have anoutlet for gossip and other conversational entertainment, or as an excuse for eating and drinking toomuch, will not find much of interest herein.

Many thanks to: Todd Lofton, Jean Lewin, Barbara Schulte, my sister Jeanne Flynn, and especiallymy wife, Alice Leicht, for their help in the preparation of this book.

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1RUBBER BRIDGE

Rules of the Game It is commonly accepted that the official laws for any game ought to be followed to the letter. Doingso results in fewer misunderstandings and arguments, making the game more enjoyable. This isespecially true for a complicated game such as contract bridge, the official rules for which arecontained in a small volume entitled Laws of Contract Bridge, 1993 revision. Anyone playingstandard rubber bridge or the Chicago version should have a copy at hand. The list price is only$4.95, available from the sources identified in Chapter 8, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. Thenew version includes these significant changes to the previous (1981) revision:

-- The bonus for doubling and defeating non-vulnerable opponents is increased by 100 points (300vs 200) for the fourth and subsequent undertricks. Instead of the previous "one, three, five, seven,nine," etc., the rule is now "one, three, five, eight, eleven," etc. As before, the bonus is twice as muchfor a redoubled contract.

-- The bonus for making a redoubled contract is increased from 50 points (as for a doubled contract)to the more logical 100 points.

-- Either defender may accept declarer's lead from the wrong hand. If neither accepts it (a partnershipconsultation is not legal), declarer may lead any suit from the correct hand. No longer is it requiredthat the same suit be led.

-- The revoke penalty is no longer an automatic two tricks. The two-trick penalty now appliesonly when the offending player (not the offending side) wins the revoke trick. Otherwise thepenalty is one trick. However, if the offending player (not the offending side) subsequently winsa trick with a card he could have legally played to the revoke trick, he loses that trick too.Penalty tricks are paid from tricks won by the offending side on the revoke trick or later, not fromprevious tricks.

-- The bonus for having the only partscore in an unfinished rubber is increased from 50 points to100 points.

The laws also include the rules for four-deal (Chicago) bridge and alternative "Club Laws" forthose playing rubber bridge in a club environment.

Rules regarding the draw for partner, seat position, pack, and right to deal first vary somewhatwith the type of game being played. Chapter 3, GAMES FOR INDIVIDUALS, and Chapter 4,

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GAMES FOR FIXED PARTNERSHIPS, include applicable drawing procedures.

Each side deals a different pack, the dealer's partner shuffling the other side's pack during thedeal and placing it to his/her right. Before dealing, a player picks up his/her side's pack from theleft and offers it to the right hand opponent for a mandatory cut.

Keeping Score

The result of each deal must be recorded, preferably by a member of each side. Scores are enteredunder two side-by-side columns labeled "WE" and "THEY." A scorer enters points scored byhis/her side under "WE" and opposing points under "THEY." A horizontal line divides the scoreinto two parts, the lower ("below the line") for trick scores and the upper ("above the line") forpremium scores. Whenever a game is won, another horizontal line is drawn under all trick scores,across both columns, indicating the start of a new game for both sides. Subsequent trick scoresare entered below that line. Figure 1-1 shows the value of trick scores.

Trick Points

The first six tricks taken by declarer of a contract constitute the "book," which does not count inthe scoring. Points for each trick over book (up to the number specified in the bid) taken in asuccessful contract are scored below the line according to the following table:

Trumps Undoubled Doubled Redoubled

Spades or Hearts 30 60 120

Diamonds or Clubs 20 40 80

Notrump, first trick 40 80 160

Notrump, addedtricks 30 60 120

Figure 1-1. Trick Scores

The first side to score 100 trick points below the line wins the game and becomes vulnerable.When a game is won, any trick points previously scored by the other side do not count toward thenext game. A rubber consists of two or three games, with the first side to score two gameswinning the rubber.

Tricks taken should be neatly overlapped in groups of four cards. After taking six tricks(“book”), it is helpful to everyone if a new row (or new angle of arrangement) of "quitted tricks"

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is started by declarer. Defenders arrange their tricks in the same fashion, with one defenderhandling all tricks taken by the defense. The defensive "book" consists of tricks necessary to holddeclarer to his/her contract, after which a second row (or new angle) of "undertricks" may bestarted.

Neither declarer nor defenders should collapse the "book tricks" into a single pile, a commonpractice, because the opposing side may not be sure how many tricks are in that pile. Figure 1-2is a picture of “quitted” tricks (tricks won) after a deal has been completed.

Figure 1-2. Arrangement of Tricks Won

The contract was four hearts, defeated by one trick. Declarer arranged the first six tricks taken(the “book”) in one line, and started another line of additional tricks. The defender on the righthas managed all tricks for his side, with the “book” for his side, four tricks, placed in a row, andthe setting trick in a second row (representing trick or tricks in excess of the defensive book).

Such careful arrangement of tricks makes the settling of disputed tricks much easier. The cardsshould not be mixed together until the result is agreed and recorded on the score sheet.

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Premium Points

All other points scored are "premiums," which are scored above the line for:

Winning the rubber when the opponents have not won a game.................................................700Winning the rubber when the opponents have won one game..................................................500Having won the only game in an unfinished rubber....................................................................300Having the only partscore in an unfinished rubber....................................................................100Making a doubled contract.............................................................................................................50Making a redoubled contract........................................................................................................100

Slams:

Bidding and making a small slam, not vulnerable........................................................................500Bidding and making a small slam, vulnerable.............................................................................750Bidding and making a grand slam, not vulnerable....................................................................1000Bidding and making a grand slam, vulnerable..........................................................................1500

Overtricks:

Each trick made in excess of a contract (overtrick).........................................................Trick ValueEach doubled overtrick, not vulnerable.......................................................................................100Each doubled overtrick, vulnerable.............................................................................................200(For redoubled contracts, multiply doubled premiums by two)

Honors:

Four trump honors (A, K, Q, J, 10) in one hand............................................................................100Five trump honors in one hand....................................................................................................150Four aces in one hand at a notrump contract...................................................................................150

Undertricks (in opponents' defeated contract):

Each undertrick, undoubled, not vulnerable..................................................................................50Each undertrick, undoubled, vulnerable.......................................................................................100First undertrick, doubled, not vulnerable.....................................................................................100Second and third undertricks, doubled, not vulnerable................................................................200Fourth and subsequent undertricks, doubled, not vulnerable......................................................300First undertrick, doubled, vulnerable...........................................................................................200Second and subsequent undertricks, doubled, vulnerable............................................................300(For redoubled contracts, multiply doubled premiums by two)

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Figure 1-1 is a blank rubber bridge scoresheet and Figure 1-2 shows scores for a typical rubber.

WE THEY

Premium Scores

Trick Scores

Total Scores

Plus/Minus

Net Scores

Figure 1-1. Blank Scoresheet

WE THEY

Premium Scores 200 500

30 500

60 120

Trick Scores 240

100

Total Scores 530 1220

Plus/Minus -1220 -530

Net Scores -690 +690

Figure 1-2. Typical Rubber Bridge Score

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"WE" started by bidding and making two spades, with an overtrick. The 60 point trick score wasentered below the line, and the 30 point premium for one overtrick above the line. "THEY" thenbid and made a small slam in diamonds, scoring 120 trick points below the line and a 500 pointslam premium above the line. A horizontal line to indicate a game then "wiped out" the "WE"partscore, which could no longer count toward a game. "WE" then bid and made two hearts,doubled and redoubled, with 100 honors. That scored 240 points below the line, and 200 pointsabove (100 for making a redoubled contract and 100 points for honors), and another horizontalline was drawn. "THEY" countered by bidding and making a second game, three notrump,scoring 100 points below the line and a 500 point premium above the line for winning a rubber inwhich the other side has scored a game.

The columns were then totaled, resulting in 530 points for "WE" and 1220 for "THEY," whoaccordingly won the rubber by 690 points. Scores are traditionally rounded to the nearest 100points, resulting in a score of +700 for "THEY" players and -700 for "WE". When rounding, ascore ending in 50 is rounded up to the next hundred. Since rounding results in all scores beingeven hundreds, it is usual to drop the two zeros and record a win of +7 for "THEY" and -7 for"WE."

Fastidious types may choose to omit rounding, but the common social practice of recording grosspoints instead of net points is not only contrary to the laws of contract bridge, but also raises aquestion: If the game is played for a money amount based on scores (as all one-table gamesshould be, if only for a small fraction of a cent per point) and everybody has a positive total, whopays off?

As an analogy, imagine investing in ten stocks on Wall Street. Some of the stocks make money,others lose money. Does one expect to keep only the winnings and not subtract the losses? Thesame concept applies to most games of chance involving cards. Poker players don't count onlythe pots they have won when determining how they stand. They subtract the money they havelost.

The Back Score

A running tabulation of accumulative net points scored by each individual is known as the “backscore,” sometimes called the “wash,” maintenance of which is usually undertaken by just oneplayer (closely monitored by all!). Net points for a rubber are rounded to the nearest 100 points(50 points counts as 100, -50 as -100) and entered opposite (or under) the player's name. As acheck, the total for all players should be zero. Rounding 50 to 100 is an American, not auniversal, custom. Other parts of the world may just drop the 50, rounding down.

As each rubber is completed, the net score for each player is algebraically added to his/herprevious score, giving a new accumulative total. The total of the new scores must be zero also, acheck that is made after scoring each rubber. Figure 1-3 shows a typical back score for fiveplayers sharing time at a table, after five rubbers. Each player has sat out for one rubber, resulting

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in no for that rubber. The winning pair for each of the five rubbers won (after rounding) by 5, 8,3, 7, and 4 (hundred) points, respectively (work it out). If the stakes are a tenth-of-a-cent perpoint, player 1 has lost 70 cents, player 2 has won $1.40, player 3 has lost 20 cents, player 4 haslost $1.90, and player 5 has won $1.40.

Player 1 2 3 4 5

Jane +5 -3 0 -7 -7

Joseph +5 +13 +10 +10 +14

Dorothy -5 -13 -13 -6 -2

Edward -5 -5 -8 -15 -19

Martha 0 +8 +11 +18 +14

Check Total 0 0 0 0 0

Figure 1-3. A Typical Back Score (Five rubbers)

Note that every column must total zero, a check that should be made after each rubber isrecorded.

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2CHICAGO

This form of contract bridge, much used for money games played in bridge clubs, is well-suitedto home play. Named after the city in which it originated, it is sometimes called "Club Bridge" or"Four-Deal Bridge." Its effect is to avoid rubbers of long duration, especially desirable whenmultiple tables are in play, or when five or six players are taking turns playing at a single table.No longer do others have to wait while a seemingly endless rubber is played out. Chicago followsthe laws of standard contract (rubber) bridge, except as modified by the special rules that follow.

The Chukker

Instead of a rubber, Chicago has a chukker, sometimes called a wheel (presumably because thedeal goes once around the table), comprising four deals bid and played. It is interesting that theterm "chukker," which also designates a period of play in polo, actually comes from a Hindi wordmeaning wheel. Each chukker takes about 20 minutes to play on average, making for a fastergame than rubber bridge, in which rubbers typically take half an hour and may drag on for 40 to50 minutes.

A passed-out hand does not count as one of the four deals, so the same dealer deals again. Aninadvertent fifth deal is void if attention is drawn to it before there has been a new draw forpartners or the game has ended; otherwise the score stands as recorded. A sixth or subsequentdeal is unconditionally void and no score for such a deal is ever permissible.

In case fewer than four deals are inadvertently played, the score stands as-is for the incompleteseries. The fourth deal need not be played unless attention is drawn to it before there has been achange of partners, or (when there is no change of partners) before bidding has begun on the firsthand of the next chukker.

Vulnerability

Vulnerability is not determined by the previous scores, but by the following schedule:

First deal: neither side is vulnerable Second and third deal: only dealer's side is vulnerable Fourth deal: both sides are vulnerable

Since partnerships are vulnerable more often in Chicago than in standard rubber bridge, total

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scores are correspondingly higher. Taken with other effects of Chicago scoring, one expertestimates that stakes are effectively increased by 30% compared to standard rubber bridge. Otherestimates range between 20% and 50%. That is, for the same per-point stakes, more money willchange hands per unit of time in a Chicago game than in a standard rubber bridge game.Consistent winners will welcome this effect, while consistent losers might want to play for lowerstakes.

Trick Scores, Premiums, and Penalties

The points for tricks taken over "book" (six tricks) in a successful contract are the same as forregular rubber bridge. For bidding and making (or completing) a game (100 or more trick points),a side receives an immediate premium of 300 points if not vulnerable for that deal, 500 points ifvulnerable. There is no extra premium for winning two or more games (i.e., no "700 rubber"),each game being scored separately. Slam premiums and penalties for defeated contracts are inaccordance with normal rubber bridge scoring, which varies according to vulnerability. Honorsalso count the same.

Partscores

As in regular rubber bridge, one or more partscores made previously may be combined with apartscore made on a current deal to complete a game of 100 or more points, provided theprevious partscore has not been "wiped out" by an intervening game scored by either side.

A side that makes a partscore on the fourth deal, if the partscore is not sufficient to score a game,receives a 100 point premium. There is no premium for a partscore carried forward to the fourthdeal from a previous deal, even if it has not been "wiped out," nor is there any premium for apartscore made on the last deal of a chukker that cannot be completed. It must be made on thefourth deal in order to get the 100 point premium. "Home-grown" variations of Chicago are oftenin error regarding this partscore premium. It is better to play the game according to the officialrules, which were developed by veteran players who gave the subject a lot of thought.

Deal Out of Turn

When a player deals out of turn, the mistake may be corrected anytime before the last card isdealt if no player has seen one of his/her cards (Looking at cards before dealing is complete is animpropriety). If the mistake is noticed after the last card is dealt, or after a player has looked atany of his/her cards, there is no redeal. The player who should have dealt bids first, but this rightis forfeited if not exercised before the actual dealer calls. If the actual dealer does call before theerror is noticed, each player thereafter calls in rotation.

Vulnerability and scoring values are determined by the position of the player who should havedealt, regardless of who dealt incorrectly. Neither the rotation of the deal nor the scoring isaffected by a deal out of turn. The next player to deal is the one who would have dealt next if the

2.3

deal had been made by the correct player. Usually this means that a player deals twice insuccession.

Keeping Score

All players are responsible for the proper maintenance of the score sheet, and it is highlyrecommended that each player keep a score. Failing that, at least one score should be maintainedby each side.

WE THEY

Premium Scores

Trick Scores

Total Scores

Plus/Minus

Net Scores

Figure 2-1. Score Sheet for Chicago

2.4

As a reminder of vulnerability, two intersecting diagonal lines are drawn near the top of the scoresheet, forming four triangles (see Figure 2-1). The numeral "1" is inserted in the triangle thatfaces the first dealer. After play of the first deal is complete and the score entered, "2" is insertedin the next (clockwise) triangle, which faces the second dealer. The numerals "3" and "4" aresubsequently inserted prior to the start of those deals, each in the triangle facing the currentdealer.

The actual deal number, recorded or not, is conclusive as to vulnerability. There is no redress fora bid influenced by a scorer's failure to maintain the figure properly or to enter a previous deal'sresults. Any error or omission discovered should immediately be corrected, and the deal or dealsrescored properly according to deal number. Figure 2-2 shows the completed scoring for a typicalchukker.

WE THEY

Premium Scores

130

90

Trick Scores 1390

400

190

Total Scores 1790 410

Plus/Minus -410 +1790

Net Scores +1380 -1380

Figure 2-2. Typical Chukker Score

2.5

The player on the scorer's right dealt the first hand, so "1" was written in the triangle facing thatdirection. Considering the scorer as "South," East-West played the first hand in three spades,making four, with 100 honors. The partscore of 90 was entered below the line, and the 30 pointovertrick combined with the honors premium, 130 points in all, above the line. So far, just likerubber bridge.

North-South wiped out that partscore by scoring a vulnerable slam in diamonds with an overtrickon deal 2. "Vulnerable" because the dealer is vulnerable on dealer 2, regardless of whether it is asecond game or not. It is common practice for Chicago scorers to combine these points into onenumber and enter it below the line, hence the 1390 point entry (750 for the vulnerable smallslam, 500 for game, and 140 trick points). Entering all points as one number below the line(when a carryable partscore is not involved) tends to avoid confusion as to how many hands ofthe chukker have been played. A horizontal line was drawn to indicate a game completion.

North-South then bid and made three notrump on the nose, scoring a non-vulnerable game"Non-vulnerable" because only the dealer's side, East-West in this case, is vulnerable on deal 3.The trick score of 100 points was added to the game premium of 300 points, a total of 400 pointsentered below the line, and another horizontal line drawn.

East-West scored again on the fourth and last deal of the chukker, dealt by North. East bid andmade two spades with one overtrick, scoring 60 points for the bid, 30 points for the overtrick,and a 100 point premium for making a partscore on the fourth deal, for a total of 190 points.

The total score was 1790 points for North-South, 410 for East-West, for a net result of +1380 forNorth-South, -1380 for East-West. These are rounded into 100's: +14 for North-South, -14 forEast-West.

To avoid confusion as to how many deals have been played, each deal should be scored even ifthere is no advantage to either side (e.g., one side is penalized 100 points, but also scores 100points for honors).

The "back score" of accumulative player scores is maintained in the same fashion as for rubberbridge, described in the previous chapter.

Optional Rules and Customs

A variation of Chicago, popular in New York City, makes the dealer's side not vulnerable insteadof vulnerable for the second and third deals, with the other side vulnerable. Supposedly thismakes for a livelier game, since a dealer is more likely to make a high-level preemptive bid whennot vulnerable against vulnerable opponents. While not mentioned in the official laws forChicago, this variation (unlike others) is generally recognized as a valid form of the game. Othervariations (e.g., duplicate-style scoring, not counting honors, not carrying over partscores,different bonuses for partscores or games, etc.) are not so recognized.

2.6

One standard but doubtful rule is the redealing of a passed-out hand. It distorts the gamesomewhat, because a non-vulnerable player in the fourth position should never pass out a handwhen the opponents are vulnerable (giving them another crack at a vulnerable game). Making thedealer non-vulnerable on the second and third deals doesn’t solve the problem, because thevulnerable player in fourth position will pass out a potential partscore hand in order to haveanother chance at a vulnerable game or slam.

Since the essence of the game is speed, if a deal is passed out when passed-out deals are notbeing counted, the pack that was shuffled for the next deal should be used by the dealer withoutreshuffling, resulting in a switch of pack ownership.

3.1

3GAMES FOR INDIVIDUALS

When there is only one table of bridge with four, five, or six players, or when there is more thanone table but it is desirable for each table to play as a separate unit (as when separating skilllevels or sexes), a single-table procedure for changing partners after every rubber or Chicagochukker may be used. See the next chapter if fixed partnerships are preferred. The players each draw a card from a shuffled and fanned-out pack for original partners, for theright to deal first, and for choice of seat and pack. The player who draws the highest card dealsfirst and gets choice of seat and pack. Second highest is dealer's partner, third highest chooseseither of the remaining seats, fourth highest gets the remaining seat. If there are five or sixplayers, anyone drawing a lower card sits out for the first rubber or chukker.

The host/hostess should announce the type of bridge to be played, Chicago or regular rubberbridge. He/she should also state beforehand which bidding (e.g., Stayman) or play (e.g., lead ofthe ace instead of the king from ace-king) conventions will be allowed. Of course the wishes ofall players should be considered before deciding on these matters, but the host/hostess has thefinal say. Leaving such decisions to the other players can make them uncomfortable and may leadto arguments and disagreements among them.

After the first rubber or chukker, the method of changing seats depends on the number of players.

Four Players

Since there is no one else waiting for a rubber to end, and typically no time constraints, the gameof choice with four players is standard rubber bridge, not the Chicago version. Why not playthe classic form of the game? Besides, Chicago lacks the excitement of two sides, each with agame and a partscore, battling hand after hand to win a 500 rubber.

The high-card player remains in the same seat as a "pivot" and the other three rotate clockwiseafter each rubber (or chukker): pivot's left hand opponent becomes his/her partner, partnerbecomes right hand opponent, and right hand opponent becomes left hand opponent. After threerubbers (or chukkers), players again draw for deal and choice of seat, unless all have agreed inadvance to continue the same progression without bothering to change.

The drawback of continuing without change is that one's left-hand opponent and right-handopponent are always the same with a given partner, and one person gets to sit still all the timeinstead of moving. If it is desirable that one person remain in the same seat, perhaps due to a

3.2

physical limitation, players 3 and 4 (per the original draw) can switch seats when a new cycle ofthree rubbers (or chukkers) begins.

Five Players

With five or six players Chicago bridge is preferable to rubber bridge, to avoid long sit-outs. Thehost/hostess should play in the game, despite the consequent necessity for players to sit out someof the time. The other players will not mind sitting out, and it would be embarrassing for them ifthe host/hostess did not participate in the game.

For the rest of this chapter, substitute "rubber" for "chukker" if playing standard rubber bridge.

Five players can be matched up fifteen different ways, each player having four possible partnersagainst three possible opposing pairs (4 x 3 = 12) and sitting out for three of the matchups (+ 3 =15). There are a number of procedures to ensure that no matchup is repeated before allpossibilities are exhausted. One of the simplest goes this way for five chukkers: The "sit-out"entering the game after a chukker takes the seat vacated by the player who is next to sit out, theplayer to the left remains in the same seat, and the other two switch seats.

While this procedure works for five chukkers, the sixth chukker would result in a repeatmatchup. To avoid this, the movement changes at the sixth chukker: The player to the right of thenew player remains seated, while the other two switch seats. That works all right for chukkers sixthrough nine, but the tenth chukker would see another repeat matchup. For those who want tocomplete the "cycle" of 15 chukkers, here are the full instructions for movement relative to theentering player (who sits in the seat vacated by the next person to sit out):

Chukker Movement

1 As per draw for partners and sit-out

2-5 Player to left of newcomer sits still, other two switch

6-9 Player to right sits still, other two switch

10 Player to left sits still, other two switch

11 Other three all move, rotating counterclockwise

12 Player opposite sits still, other two switch

13 Other three all move, rotating clockwise

14 Player opposite sits still, other two switch

15 Other three all move, rotating clockwise

3.3

There are other ways to achieve the full cycle of matchups, but this one has a nice symmetry:Besides partnering every other player three times, a player sits three times on the left and threetimes on the right of every other player. Needless to say, very few sessions of play last for the fullcycle of 15 chukkers, but multiple sessions are common for bridge players (e.g, playing atlunchtime, on a cruise, or any sort of continuing competition).

Rather than go by the above instructions, an alternative "guide card" method achieves the samematchups. Giving each player a number based on the initial draw of the cards, here are thematchups for each chukker:

Chukker Matchup Out

1 1-2 vs 3-4 5 2 1-3 vs 2-5 4 3 2-4 vs 1-5 3 4 3-5 vs 1-4 2 5 4-5 vs 2-3 1 6 3-1 vs 2-4 5 7 2-1 vs 3-5 4 8 2-5 vs 4-1 3 9 3-4 vs 5-1 2 10 3-5 vs 4-2 1 11 4-1 vs 2-3 5 12 5-1 vs 3-2 4 13 2-1 vs 5-4 3 14 3-1 vs 4-5 2 15 5-2 vs 3-4 1

If a player's departure reduces the game to four players, they can revert to the four-playerprogression described above, with a new draw for partners, pack, deal, and seat position.

Drawing for deal and pack selection when the sit-out comes into the game is player-optional. Asimpler procedure is to let the incoming player deal first, using the shuffled pack. Decide on oneprocedure in advance and stick to it throughout the session of bridge.

Six Players

With six players there are two sit-outs for each chukker. The participants draw as for thefive-player movement, except that the drawers of the two lowest cards sit out. The sit-outs comein together after every chukker, replacing the two whose turn it is to sit out next. A draw for deal,pack, seat position, and partners is made at the start of each chukker, with the proviso that norepeat partnership is allowed. If high card has already played with second highest, he/she playswith the next lower one who has not yet been a partner.

3.4

Even with six players, it is advisable for the host/hostess to participate. With two sit-outs foreach chukker, a second card table can be set up so that the two players who are sitting out canamuse themselves by playing gin rummy, backgammon, or some other two-person game.

After seven chukkers four players will have partnered every other player once and two players(those who first sat out) will have partnered all but each other. If the same progression continued,the next chukker would see an unavoidable repeat partnership. For the next chukker, therefore,the two players coming back to the table become partners (for the first time) and the others drawto see which two sit out to start a new cycle of seven chukkers.

If a player's departure reduces the game to five players, they can revert to the five-playerprogression described above, with a new draw for partners, pack, deal, and seat position.

Playing for Money

Bridge played at a single table should include some sort of stake, if only a twentieth-of-a-cent perpoint. Why? Because it discourages "hand hogs" from ruining the game by bidding too much. Italso makes for a sharper game, since players are more on their toes when even a little money isinvolved. Those who continually lose will start studying up on the game, thereby raising theirlevel of bidding and play. In fact, everyone's game will tend to improve, since all of us like tomake money and no one enjoys losing it.

Some social games are played for a set amount of money (e.g., "a quarter a corner"). It is morelogical to reward wins and punish losses in proportion to points won or lost. Bridge is a game ofskill, which ought to be recognized in the payoffs. If one player has the only minus score in agroup of four, he/she should pay the other three in accordance with the points they won. This isonly right. Winners should win and losers should lose. In a "quarter-a-corner" type game therewould always be only one winner and three losers. That isn't right.

One must be careful, however, not to declare a "stake" that would be uncomfortably high for anyplayer. This difficulty may be avoided by including a proposed stake in the invitation to play:"I'm getting up a quarter-of-a-cent-a-point game for Friday night, are you interested?" That givesthe invitee an "out" if he/she doesn't want to admit that the stakes are uncomfortable: "Sorry,I've got something doing that evening."

Small stakes make for a friendlier game in which no one worries much about a partner's mistakes(or one's own). At a twentieth-of-a-cent per point a player would have to lose by 5,000 points tobe out $2.50, a loss that anyone can accept with good grace.

Certainly the stakes must be clearly established and agreed to by all before the first deal, to avoidany misunderstandings. It is disconcerting, to say the least, to find you have lost $100, notthe $10 according to the stakes you had assumed.

3.5

Multiple Tables

With more than one table of players it is better to play Chicago chukkers rather than regularrubber bridge, to avoid the waiting that a long rubber may cause.

Since it is impractical to have detailed partnership understandings with so many partners, thehost(ess) should announce a limited number of conventional bids that may be used by all. Forinstance, conventions could be limited to Blackwood and Stayman. For an experienced group,adding Jacoby transfer bids and/or weak two bids might be appropriate. It is unwise to go muchfurther in the direction of complexity, and all partnerships must stick to the announcedrestrictions. It is not fair for two individuals who are an experienced partnership to use theirarsenal of conventional bids and partnership understandings when playing together.

It is not customary for a multi-table game to base money winnings (or losses) in direct proportionto the scores achieved. Prizes are awarded to the highest scorers, or they can share in a pot ofmoney to which all contribute equally at the start.

Two or Three Tables

A popular procedure for two or three tables is the use of "tally cards," available in most stationerystores. The tallies give instructions for table and seat locations of the players, with space forrecording of scores. They often include a method of assigning player numbers to men and womensuch that mixed partnerships will result for the first four rounds (of seven) for a two-table gameand the first six rounds (of eleven) for a three-table game. Some tallies refer to this type of gameas "progressive bridge," a misnomer. Progressive bridge, described in Chapter 4, GAMES FORFIXED PARTNERSHIPS, is a game in which players change tables according to scoresachieved. Instead of using tallies, partnerships can be switched by simple oral instructions. Hereis the starting setup for a two-table game

8 3

6

Table 1 2 7 Table 2 5

1 4

Figure 3-1. Two-Table Individual Seating

3.6

12

2 Table 1 9

1

3

8 Table 2 6

4

5

10 Table 3 7

11

Figure 3-2. Three-Table Individual Seating

These games can be run without tallies, as follows:

1) Players take their places at random, but the highest number position at Table 1 is usually takenby the host or hostess, who remains in the same seat throughout the contest. Alternatively,the position may be assigned to a player who is physically limited.

2) When players are seated, inform each player of his/her number, according to the Figure 3-1 or3-2, and identify the player holding the next-lower number. For two tables, player 7 is "below"player 1 (since player 8 is stationary). For three tables, player 11 is "below" player 1 (since player12 is stationary).

3.7

3) After each round of play, all players except the stationary player at Table 1 move to the seatvacated by the next-lower number player. Each moving player will therefore "follow" the sameperson throughout the bridge session.

A complete two-table game, in which every player is partnered by every other player, requiresseven rounds of play. Playing Chicago (four-deal) chukkers results in a total of 28 hands for theentire session. If that is too many, the game can be cut short after any round.

A complete three-table game requires 11 rounds of play totaling 44 hands if Chicago is played.While that is too many rounds for a single session of bridge, it makes for a nice two-sessiongame, afternoon and evening, with a dinner break after five or six rounds. Otherwise the gamecan be cut short at any point.

Whatever the method of switching partners, players should record their net score (points scoredminus points scored by opponents), not gross score, for each chukker played. Recording grossscores violates the laws of contract bridge, which mandate net scoring. If the prospect of carryinga negative score is unacceptable to the participants, the "Victory Point" method of scoringdescribed in the next chapter may be used.

The simplest method for recording net scores is to round off to the nearest hundred and recordhundreds only (e.g., +840 is scored as +8, -1650 as -17). Scores ending in 50 are rounded up tothe next higher hundred. Each score is added to a player's previous score(s) to obtain anaccumulative score. As a check, the scores of all participants should add to zero after every roundof play and at the end of all play. Score sheets may be saved to resolve any discrepancy in thisregard. There should be no problem if all four players agree on the score of each chukker, butsome people have trouble adding a positive score to a negative score.

Four or More Tables

Individual play with sixteen or more players can be complicated and awkward. With equalnumbers of men and women a possibility is to play the progressive bridge game described inChapter 4, GAMES FOR FIXED PARTNERSHIPS, but change partners after every chukker.

The procedure is this: Initial partners are established by one sex's random draw of opposite sexnames. After each chukker is completed and the players have changed tables in accordance withthe rules of progressive bridge, all pairs switch partners with their new tablemates. At the end ofplay, the highest scoring person of each sex receives a prize.

A word about individual games: Bridge is a partnership game, not really a game for individuals.The greatest enjoyment of bridge comes from skillful play with a familiar partner. You willseldom see quality bridge being played in a game for individuals. That is why some peopledislike such games intensely. It may be better to have separate parties for those who want to playas fixed pairs and those who don't mind changing partners.

4.1

4GAMES FOR FIXED PARTNERSHIPS

One-Table Set Game

In a set game two pairs play without changing partners. This is the typical game for two couplesplaying an evening of bridge. Since there is no one else playing, the duration of a rubber is un-important. As in a four-player game of individuals who switch partners, the preferred game istherefore standard rubber bridge, not the Chicago version.

Players each draw a card from a shuffled and fanned-out pack for the right to deal first, for packselection, and for seat position, with high card winning all three rights.

The superstitious have the right to require a new draw after every rubber, but it is moreconvenient to continue the normal deal rotation, deal the same packs, and sit in the same seats forthe entire session of bridge. Luck exists only in retrospect, not in prospect, for high cards have nomemory and do not know which way they are supposed to be running (nor how the bathtub isoriented).

Multiple Tables

Games of fixed partnerships can involve prearranged partnerships, ad hoc partnerships arrangedat the bridge party, or a combination of both. With equal numbers of men and women, one sexcan draw for partners of the other sex, with a resultant "mixed pair" competition. If a regularpartner is drawn, a player must draw again.

Arranging fixed partnerships by lot can lead to some problems, however. For one, a very weakplayer can make the bridge party a miserable affair for the unfortunate person who draws him/heras a partner. Also there may be, unknown to the host(ess), two persons who should not be pairedfor private reasons. It may be better to arrange partnerships in advance, consulting with theparticipants, with questions like: "Who would you like to play with?" "Is there anyone you'drather not play with?" "I'd like to pair you with John. Is that okay?"

In a multiple table game, players draw for deal, pack, and seat position for every rubber or(preferably, and assumed from here on) for every Chicago chukker.

4.2

Progressive Bridge

There are many amateur arrangements for "progressing" during a bridge party consisting of fixedpartnerships. A popular procedure uses numbered tables to which pairs are assigned by randomdraw.

After playing a chukker, winning pairs move to the next lower number table (but the winners atTable 1 remain there), and losers stay at the same table (but the losers at Table 1 move to thehighest number table). The game continues in this fashion until the host(ess) declares that thegame is over.

Another popular movement has winning pairs moving to the next lower number table (thewinners at Table 1 remaining there), and losers moving to the next higher number table (thelosers at the highest number table remaining there).

The pairs record their accumulative net scores throughout the bridge session, and give thatinformation to the person responsible for determining the winners. The pair with the highestscore wins whatever prize is offered, while there may be a booby prize for the lowest scoring pair(not a good idea, that). As pointed out before, recording gross scores instead of net scores iscontrary to the laws of contract bridge.

This movement has the "Swiss" philosophy of pairing both stronger teams and weaker pairs witheach other as the movement progresses, giving some weaker players a chance to move up in thestandings (and stronger players a chance to move down). One drawback of this progression isthat repeat matches are likely. Besides, the movement doesn't even fulfil its supposed aim. Forinstance, the first round winners at the highest number table, if they continue to win, will meetonly losers of the preceding round until they reach Table 1. That's an unfair advantage. A bettermovement is described next.

Swiss Pairs

In 1970 Nate Silverstein of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) devised a one-winnerpair game that is usually called a "Swiss Pair" game. There should be at least six pairs, preferablymore. Partnerships can be established by lot or prearranged.

Whatever the method of determining partners, pairs draw for pair number and initial tablelocation. Pairs 1 and 2 start at Table 1, 3 and 4 at Table 2, etc.

Each round of play entails one four-deal chukker of Chicago. Players at a table each draw a cardfrom a shuffled and fanned-out pack to determine who gets first deal, choice of pack, and choiceof seat (high card wins). At the end of the chukker the points are totaled and the difference,positive for one pair and negative for the other, is added to each pair's accumulative score.

4.3

Alternatively, net scores for each chukker can be converted to Victory Points for winners-losersaccording to the following schedule:

Winners' Net Points Victory Points 0-40 10-10 50-140 11-9 150-240 12-8 250-340 13-7 350-540 14-8 550-740 15-7 750-940 16-4 950-1240 17-3 1250-1540 18-2 1550 or more 19-1

The idea behind Victory Points is to reduce the effect of unusually large scores. The "19-1"maximum score ensures that no one will have the embarrassment of a zero accumulative score.

When the first round is completed and the scores for all pairs are known, the game's directorcarefully records the results of each match. The director then determines matchups for the secondround. This is Swiss pairing in which the pair with the highest score plays the pair with the nexthighest score, and so on until all pairs are matched for the next round. Table assignments areinconsequential, but the game director may choose to assign tables to pairs in ascending order,with the top two pairs going to Table 1.

This progression continues for succeeding rounds, with the proviso that no pair can play anotherpair more than once. If two pairs matched by accumulative score totals have already played, thenthe higher pair plays the next lower pair not yet met.

The game continues for any predetermined number of rounds, certainly at least five rounds forthree tables (only 20 deals of Chicago, and all pairs will meet once).

The philosophy behind Swiss pairs is to give weaker pairs a better chance to do well in thescoring. With winners meeting winners and losers meeting losers, some winners will certainlyfall in the standings while some losers will certainly rise. If the number of pairs and rounds ofplay are such that all pairs meet each other, then this factor is eliminated and the event might aswell be a simple round-robin (all pairs meeting in any order).

It is possible to introduce some element of seeding by assigning the stronger pairs to differenttables for the first round. However, the Swiss pair concept is aimed at handicapping strongpairs and aiding weak pairs, the opposite of the philosophy behind seeding. It would be morelogical to assign beginning positions according to ability, pairing strong against strong and weak

4.4

against weak. But who would accept the designation of "weak pair" graciously? Perhaps the bestprocedure is the usual compromise of assigning first-round positions by random draw.

The director of the game establishes the policy for allowable bidding and play conventions. Ifpartnerships for the contest are determined by lot, the conventions allowed should be restricted tothe very basic ones, perhaps just Blackwood and Stayman. This is especially desirable if there areinexperienced players in the group.

The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) provides charts of home-style scorecards forSwiss Pairs, including the conversion of rubber bridge or Chicago scores into Victory Points, foronly $5 per 50. It also provides recapitulation ("recap") sheets with room to list results for up to26 pairs, in pads of 50 for $4. See Chapter 8, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, for the ACBL'saddress and toll-free phone number.

Round-Robin Pairs

If the number of pairs is not excessive, each fixed partnership can play a chukker or two ofChicago with every other pair. A two-table round-robin, each pair playing two chukkers againsteach of the other three pairs, entails 24 deals. A three-table round-robin of single chukkers takes20 deals, while four tables require 28 deals. The round-robin concept is not feasible for morethan eight pairs unless two sessions of play are planned. The Victory Point schedule for Swisspairs is a good alternative to just accumulating net scores.

Since every pair meets every other pair in a round-robin, the order of play is unimportant. Thehost(ess) can make up a schedule of pair numbers that meet on each round of play, then assignnumbers to pairs by random draw.

5.1

5MARATHONS

This form of party bridge features a round-robin competition for any number of fixed partner-ships. Each pair meets every other pair in the home of one pair, following a schedule establishedin advance by random draw.

Marathons are usually designated as afternoon or evening marathons. Afternoon marathons aretypically for women, evening marathons for women or both sexes (marathons for men, who seemto prefer familiar foursomes, are rare). The schedule usually calls for one match a month, skip-ping two or three summer months, with the exact day a matter of agreement between the twopairs. The schedule includes a designation of the host pair for each match, i.e., the pairresponsible for holding the match in their home. If the pair individuals do not live in the samehome, they decide on their own who will host the match.

Another popular plan has all pairs meeting at the same place and time (e.g., second Tuesdayafternoon of every month at the Officer's Club). A pair that cannot play on a specified day mustmake up the game by hosting their scheduled opponents at home that month.

Marathons need a focus. The focus can be as simple as bringing club members together in asocial way, but more often marathons are run for the benefit of some charity. An entry fee foreach pair is established, with all money (less prize expenses) going to the designated charity. Theparticipants are owed a complete accounting of this money at the end of the marathon, includingthe name, address, and telephone number of the beneficiary. Just good business, that's all.Alternatively, all of the money can go to prizes or cash awards.

An "awards game" scheduled at the end of the marathon combines all players in a final bridgecontest. This game is usually hosted by the marathon coordinator, but anyone can volunteer tohost it. The natural inclination might be to hold this game in December, the last month of theyear, but that is not a good idea. With so much else going on that month, it is difficult to geteveryone together at the same time. The type of bridge game played in this event is optional. SeeChapter 4, GAMES FOR FIXED PARTNERSHIPS.

Ten pairs make for a good marathon. Playing once a month, but skipping July and August, allmatches are completed after nine months. The final party can be held during the tenth month(June?) and the marathon could become an annual event. The five tables of bridge in the finalparty are about the maximum for a host(ess) to handle comfortably.

5.2

Larger groups can hold marathons lasting a longer period and hold the final game in a club,restaurant, or hotel banquet room. Scheduling games more frequently than once a month to fitmore matches into a single year is not recommended, however. It is hard enough to get pairs tomeet a monthly schedule. An alternative plan is to schedule an incomplete round-robin, not allpairs meeting, to limit the calendar time required. A women's group in San Diego has twoafternoon and one evening marathons running concurrently, ending with a single awards dinnerfor all at a hotel. Some women play in both an afternoon and the evening marathon.

Conditions of Play

The conditions and rules of play are printed and distributed to all participants. Included should bea specification that the Laws of Contract Bridge must be followed, guidelines for food to beserved, and general remarks about proper ethics and deportment. Add a summary of Chicagorules if Chicago bridge is to be played. A schedule shows the "draw" of competing pairs for eachmonth of the marathon, hosting obligations, and everyone's telephone number. It is helpful toprovide the telephone number(s) of one or more persons who may be called to resolve anyproblem arising concerning bridge law or marathon rules.

A match consists of 20 deals, or perhaps 24 if the players are experienced (not often the case).Passed-out hands are not usually counted. The standard game of rubber bridge is usual, butplaying the Chicago version would be more logical for a contest of this nature. It isn't fair toequate a two-rubber match (of ten hands each) with a ten-rubber match (of two hands each). Players draw for deal, seat position, and pack, high card winning those rights. Thereafter the dealpasses in normal rotation. It is customary for the two pairs to switch directions after everyrubber/chukker or at the halfway point (accommodating those who believe that good cards run ina particular direction during a match). A common procedure has all four players moving one seatto the left (i.e., clockwise) after every rubber. If switching seats does not affect luck, at least ithas the merit of aiding blood circulation.

When the specified number of deals have been played, an unfinished rubber is scored byawarding 300 points for a completed game and 100 points (it used to be 50) for any partscore thathas not been "wiped out" by an opposing game. If Chicago bridge is played there will be nounfinished chukker, since the four deals of a chukker divide evenly into 20 or 24.

Informal marathon rules often include a prohibition against redoubling, but this rule violates thelaws of contract bridge. Another common practice is to record gross scores for each pairinstead of net scores. This also violates the laws, which mandate net scoring. Howeverdepressing it may be, a pair that scores 2,000 points to an opponents' 3,000 points has a net of-1,000 points, the number that should be recorded as their score for that match, while the otherpair receives credit for 2,000, not 3,000. Besides being illegal (i.e., contrary to the laws), grossscoring leads to indiscriminate doubling and redoubling. The rule against redoubling becomesunnecessary when scoring is in accordance with the rules of the game.

5.3

If the prospect of carrying a negative score is too repulsive for the participants, the Victory Pointmethod of scoring may be used. Victory Points also have the advantage of reducing the effect ofextra large scores, thereby leveling the field somewhat. The net score of a match is converted toVictory Points for winners-losers according to a schedule such as the following:

Winners' Victory Points Net Points Winners-Losers

0-90 10-10 100-290 11-9 300-490 12-8 500-790 13-7 800-1090 14-8 1100-1390 15-7 1400-1690 16-4 1700-1990 17 -3 2000-2490 18-2 2500 or more 19-1

Forms are provided by the coordinator for recording the result of each match. These must besigned by a member of each pair and sent to the coordinator. When each month's matches havebeen completed, the current standings should be mailed or e-mailed to all participants. It is notright that the coordinator, who usually participates in the marathon, should be the only person toknow every pair's standing. At least those interested should be able (and encouraged) totelephone for the current standings.

Failure to complete a match in the specified time period is just not permissible, and should bepunished in some predetermined fashion. An acceptable solution for those who can't meet theschedule is to arrange for substitutes. Habitual delinquents should be replaced permanently.

On rare occasions a pair may be dropped from a marathon because of unacceptable deportment atthe bridge table. Participants should be warned of this possibility, and known "bad actors" shouldnot be invited to participate. Entry fees are not refundable.

Smoking is definitely not "host-optional." No smoking is the general rule, except perhaps outsideduring a break at the halfway point of a match. It is not considered polite for dummy to leavethe table for a quick smoke. Smokers are free to form a marathon of their own, after all.

Food and Drink

Establishing guidelines for food and drinks to be served is highly desirable, to avoid somepossible pitfalls. It is disconcerting to attend a game hungry and find only peanuts served, or toeat a big meal beforehand only to have another one served up by the host(ess). Guidelines will

5.4

also preclude a "prestige contest," with each pair trying to outdo every other in the elaboratenessof food served.

Guidelines may call for simple snacks, appetizers/hors d'oeuvres, soft drinks and maybe wine, ora complete meal. The meal may be restricted to an uncomplicated entree such as spaghetti or acasserole, salad, and rolls. An evening marathon usually ends with dessert and coffee. Chapter 7,FOOD AND DRINK, has more on this subject.

One reason for keeping things simple is that the host(ess) should be as free as possible to playbridge without running to the kitchen every few minutes. To avoid that problem, some marathonssuggest that a meal be served before the game starts. Another reason for simplicity is thatelaborate meals take too much time to serve and consume.

Although wine may be offered by the host pair, the general rule should be BYOB for alcohol.Non-drinkers can hold a marathon of their own if they can't endure seeing alcohol consumed intheir homes. Needless to say, it is very bad form to become intoxicated during a match.

Food at the final awards game is logically a pot-luck affair.

Prizes

Prizes are usually awarded to the first and second place finishers in both the marathon and thefinal party, which is scored separately from the marathon. Prizes may be money or merchandise,customarily the latter. In order to avoid the tailoring of prizes in accordance with the popularityof the winners, the nature and value of prizes should be established and made known to allparticipants at the start of the marathon.

6.1

6MIXING SPORTS WITH BRIDGE

Here's an idea for mixing tennis and bridge: Get eight or twelve people together for a session oftennis doubles to be followed by a session of bridge. The tennis courts are treated as "tables,"with switching of partners (if desired) and opponents exactly as described in Chapter 3, GAMESFOR INDIVIDUALS, for a two or three-table bridge game for individuals, or Chapter 4,GAMES FOR FIXED PARTNERSHIPS, for a two or three-table game with fixedpartnerships. The tennis matches can be standard sets, shortened sets of "no-ad" games, or just acertain number of games (divisible by four to equalize serving), according to how many matchesarenecessary and how much time is available.

But suppose some tennis players don't play bridge, and some bridge players don't play tennis?The answer is obvious: the former play tennis only, and the latter bridge only, with perhaps apot-luck lunch (or dinner) in between for all participants.

The same idea can be extended to other sports, such as golf, that include a partnership concept.

7.1

7FOOD AND DRINK

Even for simple games following dinner or lunch, it is customary to have some sort of snacks toaccompany a bridge game. Nuts, pretzels, "party mix," M & Ms, or similar items should belocated on just two opposite corners of each table. Greasy or messy foods such as potato chips,buttered popcorn, chocolates, or crumbly cookies are not appropriate. There is no pleasure inhandling cards made greasy by some careless eater or viewing a table with crumbs scatteredaround. Coasters or cocktail napkins should be provided for drinks.

When more serious food is called for, short of a full meal, any sort of cold or hot hors d'oeuvreswill do as long as they are not greasy or messy. A nice custom is the serving of dessert and coffeeat the end of an evening bridge session.

Full meals are most conveniently served buffet style. The card tables serve well as dining tables,provided they are covered with tablecloths during mealtime. Small place mats don't do the job,while larger ones overlap in an unattractive way. Standard 52-inch square tablecloths, widelyavailable, are just right for 36-inch square bridge tables.

In planning a meal watch out for foods that may be unacceptable to one or more guests. For asmall party it is easy to inquire about allergies (or even likes and dislikes) of guests beforedeciding on the menu. For a larger group, it is simply a matter of providing a variety of foods sothat people can skip dishes they don't want. One might think that foods like rice or pasta areuniversally enjoyed, but not so. Some people are allergic to, others inexplicably averse to, manyfoods that are usually considered innocuous.

Pot-luck meals are appropriate for bridge parties of two or more tables. To avoid duplication ofeffort, each person or pair should be responsible for a designated class of food (hors d'oeuvre,salad, entree, side dish, or dessert). Wine drinkers usually contribute a bottle of wine as well.

Strong alcoholic drinks do not mix well with quality bridge playing, but if quality is not a factor,do whatever is customary in your group. Most people can handle a little wine. Sodas, coffee(both kinds), tea, lemonade, and other soft drinks are always in order.

8.1

8EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

The equipment needed for party bridge is neither extensive nor costly. Most of it can be usedover and over again, so the amortized cost is very little. Besides the items described belowthere is a need for good lighting, proper temperature control, freedom from drafts, and otherenvironmental amenities. Soft background music is enjoyed by some, detested by others, so besure to ask whether anyone minds before putting Mozart into the CD player.

Card tables - Sturdy, 36 inches square. Smaller tables just don't have enough room for score pads,pencils, snacks, drinks, dummy's cards, and tricks won. Larger tables require undue reaching toplay the dummy, especially for shorter persons. A felt cover makes a perfect surface for cardplay. The felt prevents cards from sliding away when dealt or played to a trick, and facilitates thepicking up of cards.

Chairs - Folding chairs are acceptable if they are fairly comfortable. Bridge players have to sit forhours at a time, so use good ones. Armchairs are nice, but should be small, not large, preferablywith casters. Chairs must be of the right height for the table so that even a short person can reachthe dummy without excessive stretching.

Good cards - Two packs per table, with different backs and traditional American design: nogimmickry, no foreign cards with unfamiliar face cards and markings. Exercise any urge fornovelty by choice of design on the back (but please, no nudes). Bridge cards have a specialshape, narrower than cards for other games so that thirteen can be held easily. Don't substitutewider cards that are designed for games such as poker or gin rummy.

Pencils - Sharpened soft-lead pencils with good erasers, four per table

Score pads - At least one for each side, more if requested. Commercial score pads are notnecessary; simple blank tablets or small sheets of paper will do. Anyone can draw lines.

Laws of Contract Bridge, 1993 revision - As with any game or sport, a book of the laws shouldbe available for settling rules violations or disputes that may arise. List price is only $4.95.

Bidding boxes - These have become more and more common in tournament play, and in fact aremandatory for regional and national championships of the American Contract Bridge League.However, they are also appropriate for social bridge games, even in the home. See Chapter 16,EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR DUPLICATE, for more on this subject.

8.2

Sources

Bridge supplies are available from the American Contract Bridge League, 2990 AirwaysBoulevard, Memphis, TN 38116-3847 (www.acbl.org). Send for their free catalog or calltoll-free 1-800-467-1623. The catalog includes bridge books, instructional materials, and otheritems of interest for all bridge players.

Another source is Baron Barclay Bridge Supplies, 3600 Chamberlain Lane, Suite 230, Louisville,KY 40241, toll-free number 1-800-274-2221 (www.baronbarclay.com). They have a wideselection of new and popular bridge books, and also have a free catalog.

9.1

9IMPROVING YOUR GAME

Anything worth doing is worth doing well, the adage goes. Can you imagine an amateur pianistplaying wrong notes for years on end, excusing himself by saying, "I just play for fun." But that isexactly what a large number of social bridge players will say. Now, what fun is there in doingsomething badly? In not winning? Why will tennis players, golfers, or skiers spend big money toimprove their skills, but will play bridge all their adult lives without spending a nickel on lessonsor instructive books? And never improve, because bridge cannot be mastered just by playing. Aswith any other sport or game, mastery takes instruction, study, and practice, not just practice. By"mastery" we don't mean real expertise, but only the ability to make the basic bids and plays.

As an analogy, take tennis. To play the game enjoyably you must learn to serve; hit forehands,backhands, and overheads; volley; and lob. That's all. You don't have to hit hard with extremeaccuracy, or cover the court like a rabbit, to say you play the game.

Now imagine a long-time tennis player serving sidearm, refusing to hit backhands, nevervolleying or lobbing, and playing only with other weak players, all the while saying, "I just playfor fun"? What fun would that be? Very little, which is why you don't often see tennis players ofthat sort.

Bridge is like tennis in this regard. To really enjoy the game you must learn the basics: openingthe bidding, responding, rebidding, defensive bidding, defensive play, and dummy play. That'sall. You don't have to do these things expertly, but you do have to learn about them if you want tosay truthfully, "Yes, I play bridge."

There are three good ways to learn or improve on bridge skills:

-- Read instructional books-- Hire a bridge teacher for private or semi-private lessons-- Attend public bridge classes

Note that the most popular way of learning, playing socially with friends, is not listed. The reasonis that it is the worst* way to learn bridge or improve one's game. Most social players arewoefully ignorant of the basic principles of the game, let alone the finer points. They are a fountof misinformation and poor advice. Four neophytes getting together to practice what they arelearning from the same book or bridge instructor will do a lot better than they would by learningfrom friends who supposedly know the game. (And will soon be trouncing those friends at thetable!)

9.2

*Or nearly the worst. The worst is to learn from one's spouse.

Also unlisted are video tapes and computer programs related to bridge. At the present time theseare generally not doing a good job of teaching bridge. Maybe someday.

Bridge Books

For those who learn well from books, instructional reading is the best way to gain bridgeknowledge. An hour of bridge reading is worth many hours of bridge classes (and an eternity ofbridge playing, because it takes forever to learn much by merely playing the game). One mustpractice what one reads, however. It is not possible to become a good player by merely readingbooks for a year and then sitting down at the bridge table. The interaction with partners andopponents is indispensable for becoming an accomplished player.

There are many books on bridge, mostly pretty good, on the market. Be wary of library books,which are often too far out of date to be worth reading. Some old classics, however, will never beobsolete. Generally speaking, books on the play of the cards do not become outdated, but bookson bidding do.

Books for beginners:

Play Bridge at Home, by Tony Forrester

Improve Your Bridge at Home, by Tony Forrester

Basic Bridge in Three Weeks, by Alan Truscott

Standard American Bridge Updated, by Norma Sands

Introduction to Declarer's Play, by Eddie Kantar

Introduction to Defender's Play, by Eddie Kantar

Books for intermediate players:

Bid Better, Play Better, by Dorothy Truscott

How to Play a Bridge Hand, by William S. Root

How to Defend a Bridge Hand, by William S. Root

Recommended reading for all: Why You Lose at Bridge, by S. J. Simon (a classic)

9.3

The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge, published by The American Contract Bridge League(ACBL). The current Sixth Edition (2002) puts bridge knowledge at your fingertips, with 900-plus pages of fascinating facts. It includes bridge history; biographies; a description of leadingbridge personalities; definitions; technical plays; bidding conventions; the laws of bridge(duplicate, rubber, Chicago), and much more.

All these books are available from the sources listed in Chapter 8, EQUIPMENT ANDSUPPLIES, if you can't find them in a bookstore. Here's a tip: Don't read too much at one time.Reading in small chunks, week after week, absorbing the material well, will result in betterretention than is possible with marathon reading.

Private Instruction

Experienced tournament players or money bridge players, even if not expert, are worth listeningto. They are usually not too thrilled about tutoring, however, unless they are closely related (byblood or romance) to the pupil or are getting paid. One doesn't ask a professional of anyoccupation for free instruction, and that goes for bridge pros too. Watch out for the supposed"expert" who pretends a knowledge not actually possessed. People who talk a good game do notnecessarily play a good game.

A professional bridge teacher, someone who makes a living teaching bridge, is probably the bestchoice for a beginning or inexperienced player. Although usually not expert players themselves,bridge teachers are generally good at explaining the elementary aspects of the game ("Them thatcan do, them that can't, teach"). They tend to be more patient than an expert, they proceed moreslowly, and they understand well the difficulties of learning the game (having had a bit of troublethemselves).

Private instruction from a professional can be rather expensive, however. A popular solution is toget a group of friends together in one of their homes, perhaps rotating the hosting responsibility,and pay a bridge teacher to come in for several hours a week. Two tables of pupils are a goodcompromise between the high cost per person of one table, and the lack of personal attentionwith three or more tables. As players become more knowledgeable they can gravitate to larger(and less expensive) public bridge classes, in which lectures and practice of principles learned isemphasized more than personal guidance.

Bridge Classes

Most duplicate bridge clubs have bridge classes for beginning, intermediate, and sometimes evenadvanced players. The ACBL has a "hot line" toll-free number for locating bridge classes in anyarea: 1-800-467-1623 (1-800-467-2623 in Canada).

By the way, most bridge "clubs," are public, not membership, clubs. The name is somewhat of amisnomer in that regard.

10.1

10RULES, ETHICS, AND PROPRIETIES

Playing by the rules makes a game more enjoyable. Rules are not written to make a game dull,but to make it better. There is an unfortunate tendency among social bridge players to ignoremany rules of the game, usually with the remark "We play for fun, not for blood." Those samepeople will go out and play a game of tennis as if it were a Wimbledon match, with all rulesstrictly in force: no foot faults, two serves per point, close attention to the lines, no touching thenet, and so forth. Or they will play golf with no deviation (improving lies, etc.) from the rules.The game of bridge deserves the same respect.

Contract bridge has a code of ethics that must be followed scrupulously if the game is to beenjoyed. "Coffee housing" with remarks intended to fool opponents, deliberate hesitations tomislead opponents or to help partner, peeking at an opponent's cards, and other unethicalbehaviors have no place in the game of bridge. Those tempted to such activity should find othergames.

Passing information to partner by forbidden means, knowingly or inadvertently, is contrary to thephilosophy (and rules) of the game. The only permissible communication with partner is throughthe language of bids, passes, doubles, and redoubles. Extraneous communication by facialexpression, needless hesitations, gratuitous remarks, etc., concerning the nature of one's hand, isnot proper grammar in the language of bridge bidding.

Speaking of language, bids should be preceded by a number (e.g., “one club,” not “uh club” or“ay club”). Say "pass" or "I pass" instead of "no bid" or "bye." The denominations should begiven their right names when pluralized (e.g., two notrump, not two notrumps; two clubs, nottwo club). Just make the call, don't announce it: "I'll bid a spade" should be simply "One spade,"“I double” just “Double.”

Other improprieties:

-- Picking up cards before the deal is completed

-- Commenting on the state of the score anytime after looking at one's hand, even if the biddinghas not yet started

-- When defending, unnecessarily inquiring about the number of tricks taken, when partner is onlead or is considering winning a trick

10.2

-- Indication of expectation or intention of winning or losing a trick before the trick has beencompleted

-- Reaching for a trick before all cards have been played to it

-- Detaching a card from one's hand before the right hand opponent has played to the trick

-- Holding cards carelessly, allowing others to see one's hand

-- Mixing the cards before the result has been agreed upon

On this last point, it is entirely proper to hold one's hand below the table, out of sight. Alittle-known trick to prevent others from seeing one's cards: Place the little finger of the handholding the cards on the front side of the cards. The finger prevents the cards from tilting forwardand becoming visible to an opponent (some people do look).

The Laws of Contract Bridge include more extensive language concerning ethics and proprieties.

11.1

11SOCIAL DUPLICATE BRIDGE

Playing duplicate bridge in the home is a delightful way to entertain a group of friends who arefamiliar with the game.

These chapters concern social duplicate bridge, not organized commercial tournament bridge,which is a whole different world. The words "duplicate bridge" may evoke a picture of nastypeople playing expertly in big bridge tournaments, an unattractive prospect for most social bridgeplayers. Using duplicated hands in party games can be a lot of fun, however. After playingduplicate bridge socially with friends, tournament bridge will seem much less intimidating forthose who wish to try it.

The duplicate form of contract bridge provides for the playing of the same deal more than once.Each contestant (which may be an individual, a pair, or a team-of-four) tries to do better thanothers playing the same hands. The luck factor associated with having good or bad cards isthereby eliminated, providing a better test of skill.

The players are provided with "guide cards," "tally cards," or oral instructions telling them whereto sit, which hand(s) to play, and sometimes with whom to play as a partner, at every stage ofplay. For most games each table in play has a "table marker" identifying the table's number, andeach contestant is assigned an identifying number.

Detailed instructions for running formal duplicate games are beyond the scope of this book.Those interested may wish to obtain a book on direction, one of which is identified in theChapter 16, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR DUPLICATE BRIDGE.

The Duplicate Board

The four hands of each deal in a duplicate contest are kept separate and intact, filling four"pockets" of a duplicate board Figure 11.1 shows a board with cards removed from the fourpockets, while Figure 11.2 shows another board with cards in the four pockets.

11.2

Figure 11.1. Duplicate Board with Cards Removed from Pockets

An arrow on the face of the board points North to facilitate the orientation of the board vis-a-visthe players. Vulnerability for each side is shown (vulnerable hands also have a red-paintedpocket), as well as the number of the deal and designation of the "dealer" (first person to bid). InFigure 11.1, showing board No. 5, only North-South are vulnerable and North is dealer.

11.3

For the first 16 boards, vulnerability and dealer position are marked as follows:

VULNERABILITY

Boards 1-4 None North-South East-West Both

Boards 5-8 North-South East-West Both None

Boards 9-12 East-West Both None North-South

Boards 12-16 Both None North-South East-West

North is the dealer for board 1, East for board 2, South for board 3, and West for board 4. Thisrotation is repeated for subsequent boards. The vulnerability and dealer pattern provides that eachdirection (North, East, South, and West) will be dealer once for each of the four possible vulner-abilities.

Boards 17-32 and 33-48 repeat the vulnerability and dealer pattern of boards 1-16.

11.4

Figure 11-2. Duplicate Board With Cards in Pockets

Board 10 in Figure 11-2 has cards not yet removed from their pockets. East-West are vulnerableand East is dealer (North is at the bottom in this picture).

11.5

At the start of a game, the designated dealer for each board removes the cards and shuffles, thendeals them into four piles on his/her side of the table. Each pile becomes a hand that the dealerplaces into a pocket of the board. An opponent may request a cut before the deal, but this is notcustomary.

The Director

It is desirable to have a "director" in charge of any duplicate contest. The director's duties includetechnical planning of the game, distributing duplicate boards to the proper tables, calling forplayer movement and board movement at specified intervals, settling any disputes or otherproblems that may arise, and tabulating scores when the game is complete. The director shouldbe thoroughly versed in the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge, which are sometimes difficult tointerpret and apply. Ideally the director does not participate in the contest, but small informalgames may include a playing director.

When the director must make a ruling concerning an infraction (lead out of turn, insufficient bid,etc.), the applicable law should be read from the book. Besides avoiding possible error, a rulingcoming directly from the book is likely to be accepted more graciously than one coming from thedirector's memory. In no case should an infraction be handled by the players at the table--thatis the director's job.

Rules for Duplicate Games

The rules for duplicate bridge are established by The Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge, theAmerican version of which is published by, and obtainable from, the American Contract BridgeLeague (ACBL). The laws are revised occasionally, so it is important to have the latest version(May 1997, as of this writing). List price is only $5.95.

One of the most important (indeed, vital) rules is the provision that cards are played to a trick byplacing each card face up on the table in front of the player, not in the center. Cards are left faceup until the trick (four played cards) is completed and all players are satisfied that they have seenall cards. Each card is then turned over in front of the one who played it, and pointed in thedirection of the side winning the trick. Subsequent cards are placed on top of previous cards,from left to right, with an inch or so of offset to the right for each trick.

In duplicate bridge the opening lead is made face down. There are technical reasons for this, butthe main one for social players is that if the lead is by the wrong defender it can be withdrawnwithout penalty provided it has not been faced. After a check that the right player is leading, thecard is turned face up. Each player in turn the plays a card by facing it on the table

At the end of play, the number of tricks won by each side is clearly indicated by the number ofcards each player has pointing in each direction. Any disagreement must be resolved before thecards are picked up. Figure 11-3 shows the played cards at the end of a deal.

11.6

Figure 11-3. Played Cards After a Duplicate Deal

The picture shows the played cards at the completion of a deal. North-South has won nine tricks,as shown by the cards placed by the North and South players with the long side of the cardsrunning North and South. Similarly, the four tricks won by East-West are “pointed” in theirdirection. After all players have played to a trick, cards faced in front of the players and not put inthe middle, players turn over their card and point it in the direction of the side winning the trick.The trick history runs from left to right for each player.

The cards must not be picked up and replaced in the board until the result of the deal is agreed byall four players. With careful positioning of the played cards, any disagreement as to number oftricks won or as to a revoke on a particular trick can be easily settled.

11.7

Playing the cards in this fashion preserves each hand so that it may be reinserted into theduplicate board for use by other players. It is extremely important, of course, that hands not bemixed in any way. Players should count the cards in a hand before looking at it, ensuring thatthere are 13. If the count is wrong, the director is called to straighten things out. Players may nottouch the cards of another player at any time without the director’s permission.

A player should shuffle his/her hand before replacing it in the board. Otherwise the next player tohold the hand would know the sequence of cards played on the previous round. Unbelievable asit may seem, there are sharpies who can make good use of such information.

Bidding and Play Conventions

The organizer of a duplicate contest specifies which special agreements between partners will beallowed. An informal home game involving inexperienced players may permit only Blackwoodand Stayman, while a game consisting of experienced players may allow almost any partnershipagreement.

When partnerships are playing with understandings that are not "standard," i.e., not in commonpractice by all participants, these must be made known to every opponent. The formal mediumfor communicating this information is the "convention card," a private score card that hasconventions and other understandings indicated on the outward side and space for individualscorekeeping on the hidden side. The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) has designedconvention cards for use in all games in which ACBL masterpoints are awarded.

The current ACBL convention card is hideously complex in specifying the information to beprovided opposing players. For social games involving any but experienced tournament players,it is better to simply require that everyone orally announce any special partnership agreementsconcerning bidding or play at the start of play with each opponent.

Initial Scoring

There are two phases to the scoring of a duplicate deal. The first phase is the actual score of eachdeal. All deals are scored separately, with previous partscores or games having no effect.

Vulnerability for each side is shown on the duplicate board for the deal. Points for tricks taken ina successful contract, undoubled, doubled, or redoubled; slam bonuses; and penalties for defeatedcontracts, are the same as in rubber bridge. Honors are not counted. A deal that is passed outscores zero for each side. Passed-out hands are not redealt.

11.8

Whenever one side bids and makes a partscore or game, it is awarded an immediate bonus inaddition to the trick points:

For a partscore 50 points For a non-vulnerable game 300 points For a vulnerable game 500 points

The ACBL has inexpensive "Instant Scorer" cards that show the score for every possible contractand number of tricks taken, whether undoubled, doubled, or redoubled.

The Traveling Score

For an individual or pair contest "traveling score" sheets, commercially available, are customary.These score sheets "travel" with the boards, folded up for security reasons and tucked into theNorth pocket along with North's hand. After the deal is played, the North player opens the"traveler" and records the result of the hand on the line corresponding to his/her identifyingnumber, then enters the East-West number(s) in the column provided. In a game for individuals,South's number is also entered. There are two separate columns for entering scores, one forNorth-South scores and one for East-West. The traveler is then folded and placed in the Northpocket on top of North's cards.

Traveling score sheets are available from the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) for aprice of $3 for a pad of 200.

A more sophisticated method is the use of "pickup slips" on which the results of each round ofplay are recorded by the North player. These are picked up after each round by the scorekeeper(the director, in most games). Pickup slips are used exclusively in ACBL higher-level tourna-ments, but are optional in club-level tournaments.

Most duplicate players like to also record the scores for themselves on an individual score card.The best are those designed by the ACBL. The outer (public) side is used to disclose any conven-tions or treatments (special partnership agreements concerning bidding or play) used by thepartnership, the inner (private) side for recording the score for each hand played. The privatescore is a good reference tool for postmortem discussions and is indispensable for finding andcorrecting any mistake in the final scoring. In a team-of-four contest it is mandatory that at leastone private score be kept by each pair, because teams do their own final scoring by comparingthe results of each partnership constituting the team.

Final Scoring

The second scoring phase involves the total score awarded to the contestant (player, pair, orteam-of-four, depending on the nature of the contest) based on a comparison of the net score oneach deal to the net score of the other(s) playing the same hands. The second phase score is what

11.9

counts toward the ranking of the contestant in the duplicate contest. There are at least fivemethods of final scoring:

1) Actual total score on the hand, positive for the side that makes the score, negative for the otherside. This method is used only for team-of-four contests, and was the only method for scoringsuch games before International Matchpoints were invented. When total point scoring is used theimportance of slams overshadows the rest of the game. Slam bidding skills (and luck in slamsbid) predominate in determining the winner. For this reason the other types of scoring shownbelow are almost universally preferred to the use of raw scores. They provide a better measure ofall-round skill in both bidding and play.

2) Matchpoint score. The contestant is awarded 0, ½ or 1 matchpoint based on a comparison withthe score(s) of those who play the same hand in the same direction. For each comparison, a betterscore receives one matchpoint, a tie receives one-half matchpoint, and a lower score receivesnothing. Note that the size of the difference has no effect. Bettering another's score by 10 points(e.g., making four notrump when the other made four hearts) receives the same single matchpointas would be received for bidding and making seven notrump when the other was defeated fivetricks, doubled and redoubled.

If traveling scores are used, these are collected at the completion of the contest and given to ascorer (usually the director). The scorer calculates the matchpoint award for each contestant onevery board.

The matchpoint scores are then transferred to recapitulation ("recap") sheets for totaling. Therecap sheet has a row for each contestant and a column for each board. When totaling is completeand checked (each column should add to the same total), the contestants are ranked according totheir final matchpoint totals.

There are computer programs available that make the task of matchpoint scoring much simpler.The main advantage of pickup slips is that the long and tedious task of manual scoring at theend of a tournament can be replaced by a computer program that does most of the work while theevent is in progress. After the last round, the scorer enters the final round's results into thecomputer and all scores are ready for printout in a matter of seconds.

Matchpoint scoring in team-of-four events is called "Board-a-Match" (BAM), perhaps becauseeach deal played may be considered as a separate match between two teams, with no othercontestants' results on that deal having any effect. Two teams meet by assigning each pair of eachteam to a different table, in a different direction (i.e., one pair is North-South at one table, theother East-West at the other table). Each duplicate board is played at both tables, and the teamscoring a positive number of net points (points scored minus opponents' points) receives onematchpoint, the other zero. A tie scores one-half matchpoint for each team.

11.10

Scoring for a BAM contest is simpler than for individual or pair games, because the contestantscan do their own final scoring. Small differences, such as an overtrick or playing a partscore innotrump or a major instead of a minor, are given perhaps undue influence with matchpointscoring. Matchpoints emphasize card-playing skills and partscore bidding judgment (especially incompetitive bidding and doubling) more than other types of scoring.

3) International Matchpoint (IMP) score. The contestant is awarded IMPs for net score on eachdeal in accordance with the following table. If the contestant's net score is negative, then theapplicable IMP score is negative.

International Matchpoint Scale

Point PointDifference IMPs Difference IMPs

0-10 0 750-990 13 20-40 1 990-1090 14 50-80 2 1100-1290 15 90-120 3 1300-1490 16130-160 4 1500-1740 17170-210 5 1750-1990 18220-260 6 2000-2240 19270-310 7 2250-2490 20320-360 8 2500-2990 21370-420 9 3000-3490 22430-490 10 3500-3990 23500-590 11 4000-up 24600-740 12

This type of scoring is universally used for team-of-four competition in both national andinternational competition, and is usual in lesser events. It strikes a nice balance between the twoextremes of total point scoring and board-a-match scoring, somewhat reducing the importance oflarge scores while only moderately increasing the importance of small scores.

It is possible to use IMP scoring for a pair event. The result a pair obtains on each deal iscompared to the average score obtained by all pairs playing that hand in the same direction(usually throwing out the highest and lowest of those scores before averaging, if the number oftables is large, to prevent abnormal results from having an undesirable effect). The difference isconverted into IMPs in accordance with the IMP scale, and the pair (or pairs, in a two-winnermovement) with the highest total of IMPs wins the contest. This method of scoring IMP-pairs iscalled "Butler."

11.11

A superior method for scoring IMP-Pairs is to compare each score with the score of every otherpair playing the same hands, determine the IMP result for each comparison, and add them all up.This is called Cross-IMP scoring (X-IMP. for short). The total IMPs scored on each board, oftena large number, becomes more meaningful if the total is divided by the number of results (not bythe number of comparisons, as might be supposed).

4) Victory Points. For short team-of-four matches, including Swiss-type team-of-four events(described in Chapter 14, DUPLICATE GAMES FOR TEAMS-OF-FOUR), various methodshave been used to balance the excessive rewards of 10- or 20-point swings in board-a-matchscoring and of slam swings (made at one table, not at the other) in IMP scoring. The mostpopular method for short matches of six to eight deals is a twenty-point scale of Victory Pointsawarded to winners-losers:

Victory Points Total IMPs Winners-Losers 0 10-10 1-2 11-9 3-4 12-8 5-7 13-7 8-10 14-6 11-13 15-5 14-16 16-4 17-19 17-3 20-23 18-2 24-27 19-1 28 or more 20-0

Victory Points may also be used in Swiss Pair games, as described in Chapter 4, GAMES FORFIXED PARTNERSHIPS.

5) Win-Loss. Used in short team-of-four matches (e.g., Swiss teams) as an alternative to VictoryPoint scoring. Teams get one point for a winning match, one-half for a tie, and zero for a loss.Usually this type of scoring is modified to give only 3/4 point for a "winning tie" (winning byonly one or two IMPs), with the other 1/4 point going to the loser.

After a specified period of play, teammates meet to compare results and arrive at a total score.When both teams agree on the result (reconciling any disagreement), the captain of the winningteam submits the result to the scorekeeper for recording. If there are multiple rounds of play, eachteam is then given table assignments for the next round. When play is completed, the scorekeeperdetermines the overall standings for the event on the basis of the scores that have been submitted.

11.12

The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL)

The ACBL is a non-profit organization to which any North American citizen can belong. It isclosely associated with the World Bridge Federation (WBF), which organizes and runsinternational bridge events and is responsible for interpreting the Laws.

The ACBL publishes a fine monthly magazine, The Bridge Bulletin, free to all members. "TheBridge Bulletin" includes many instructional articles of interest to all bridge players, beginning,intermediate, or advanced, as well as reports on major tournament results and upcoming events.This publication alone is worth the ACBL annual membership fee.

The ACBL conducts three kinds of tournaments in North America: National, Regional, Sectional,and Unit championships, in decreasing order of importance. Masterpoints, used for rankingplayers nationally, are awarded to successful contestants in each event, the number of pointsdepending on the importance of the event and the ranking in the event. Privately owned bridgeclubs, some also non-profit, can award ACBL masterpoints (on a smaller scale) for success inclub games. Local chapters ("units") of the ACBL are authorized to hold regularly-scheduledgames in addition to Unit championships.

While there are a great number of lower-level championship tournaments, there are only threeNational American Bridge Championships (NABCs) per year. The NABCs are held in differentcities every year, each NABC lasting more than a week and including a large number of eventsfor every level of player, even novices. The NABCs provide an opportunity for watching(kibitzers are welcome) or playing against top bridge experts of not only NorthAmerica, but ofthe world.

The ACBL offers more information in a free pamphlet called "Adventures in Duplicate,"available at the address given in the Chapter 16, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FORDUPLICATE BRIDGE.

The ACBL has a web site that all bridge players should visit: www.acbl.org

12.1

12DUPLICATE GAMES FOR INDIVIDUALS

In an individual duplicate game, players change partners after every round of play (which may bejust a single deal). Since it is impractical to have detailed partnership understandings with somany partner, the host should announce a limited number of conventional bids that will be usedby all. For instance, conventions could be limited to Blackwood and Stayman. For an experi-enced group, adding Jacoby transfer bids and/or weak two bids might be appropriate. It is unwiseto go much further in the direction of complexity, and all partnerships must stick to theannounced restrictions. It is not fair for two individuals who are an experienced partnership touse their arsenal of conventional bids and partnership understandings when playing together.

Two or Three Tables

Players at two tables exchange a set of boards at their convenience, while in a three-table gamecompleted boards are passed to the next-lower number table (Table 1 passes boards to Table 3).The most convenient method of passing boards is to set a chair or small table midway betweentables, to which the boards are passed and from which they are retrieved. This procedure avoidsthe possibility that someone passing a board will see part of a deal not yet played at his/her table.

A new set of boards is played each round. The eight-player game requires seven rounds totaling14, 21, or 28 boards (2, 3 or 4 boards per round). The twelve-player game requires 11 roundstotaling 33 boards (3 boards per round). The longer games could perhaps include a food breaksomewhere near the mid-point of the contest, or a game can be cut short. To estimate the timerequired for a duplicate game, figure about seven or eight minutes per hand plus one minute extrafor each round. Slow players must try to keep up with everyone else.

After each set of boards, scores are calculated and added to an accumulative total for each player.

There is an interesting five-round alternative to the 11-round three-table game, when six couplesare participating: The hosts (numbered 1 and 7) play together throughout in the same positionat the same table. They play against the other couples in turn, but each couple is together only atthe host table!

Number all the guests of one sex from 1 to 6, and their spouses (or whatever) from 7 to 12. Startnumbers 7, 1, 2, and 8 as West-North-East-South at Table 1; put 12, 4, 5, and 9 in the samedirections at Table 2; and 10, 3, 6, and 11 similarly at Table 3. Players 1 and 7 remain stationary,while the others take the place of the next lower number of the same sex after each round (6 is

12.2

"below" 2 and 12 is "below" 8). After the five rounds are complete, each guest will have playedwith every other guest of the opposite sex. The set of boards for each round (three or more) isshared among the tables as described above. The number of boards played per round determinesthe length of the game (e.g., four deals per round means 20 in all).

Matchpoint scoring can be used for a two or three-table individual game, but InternationalMatchpoint (IMP) scoring is more appropriate. To calculate an IMP score, a pair adds its resulton a board to the result of the pair playing the opposite direction at the other table, and the sum isconverted to IMPs in accordance with the IMP table in Chapter 11, SOCIAL DUPLICATEBRIDGE. With three tables, a pair gets two IMP scores for each deal, arrived at by comparingresults with each of the two pairs playing that deal in the opposite direction.

Scores can be computed and standings made known to all after each round of play ("barometerscoring"), or results may be saved for summation after the contest is over.

Bringing in new boards for each round, until all available boards have been played, providesvariety in vulnerability vs dealing position.

For a larger number of tables, matchpoint scoring is usual.

Four Tables

This number of tables is not well-suited to an individual type game. It is better to arrange a fixedpair or team-of-four contest, as described in the next two chapters.

The Rainbow Movement

This duplicate bridge movement for individuals is ideal for a number of tables that is notdivisible by 2 or 3 (5, 7, 11, 13, etc.). In fact, no guide cards are necessary. The North playersremain stationary, while the other players move as follows after each round: South goes to thenext higher table, East skips a table upward, West skips a table in the other (lower) direction. Forthis purpose Table 1 is "above" the highest number table.

The players take an identifying number based on the table number of their starting position:North takes the table number, West the table number plus the number of tables, South the tablenumber plus twice the number of tables, East the table number plus three times the number oftables. When scoring a hand, four player numbers must be recorded, two for North-South andtwo for East-West. Three partnerships are played on each round, each of the three moving playerstaking turns (South first, East last) playing a hand with the stationary North player as partneragainst the other two. When moving to the next table, the moving players revert to their originalcompass direction.

12.3

The boards are passed to the next lower number table after each round (the highest number tableis "below" Table 1). The number of rounds is equal to the number of tables, while the number ofboards played is three times the number of tables. The game can be lengthened by playing twohands per partnership (six boards a round) or the contest can be cut short after any round.

Moving players and boards in this fashion, the specified number of tables ensures that no twoplayers will meet at the same table more than once, and no one will meet boards they have playedbefore. Each player will play one hand with every other player who does not have the samecompass direction.

It is advisable to give each participant a colored card with the player's number, the coloridentifying the compass direction of the player. If two players at a table have the same color,someone has moved incorrectly. The colored cards are also useful for ensuring that everyoneplays each of the three hands sitting in the right compass direction. The use of colored cardssuggested the name "Rainbow Movement" for this contest, which was devised by OswaldJacoby and Shepard Barclay.

Matchpoint scoring is based on compass direction, so there are four winners. Placing the bestplayers in the North seats is a nice custom: They don't get to play with each other as partners, theweaker players get to play a hand with every strong player as partner, and the strong playerscompete only among themselves in the scoring.

Repeating what was said in Chapter 3, GAMES FOR INDIVIDUALS: Bridge is a partnershipgame, not really a game for individuals. The greatest enjoyment of bridge comes from skillfulplay with a familiar partner. You will never see quality bridge being played in a game forindividuals. That is why some people dislike such games intensely. It may be better to haveseparate games for those who want to play as fixed pairs and those who don't mind changingpartners.

13.1

13DUPLICATE GAMES FOR FIXED PARTNERSHIPS

It is possible to play a matchpoint duplicate pair contest with two or three tables, but other typesof bridge (i.e., individual or team-of-four) are more appropriate with this number of players.

With four tables or more, a matchpoint duplicate pair game is feasible. A Howell one-winnermovement is the best choice for four to eight tables. The eight pairs in a four-table game willplay seven rounds of three or four boards a round, 21 or 28 deals. A seven-table Howell game isan ideal duplicate contest, with each pair playing all 26 boards and meeting every other pair.

The movement of pairs after each round of play in a Howell movement is irregular, requiringdirection in the form of "guide cards" carried by each pair, or of table markers that includemovement instructions for each pair at the table after each round. Both types are available fromthe sources referenced in Chapter 16, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR DUPLICATEBRIDGE.

An easier game to run is the Mitchell movement, in which all North-South pairs remainstationary while the East-West pairs change tables after each round of play. There are twowinning pairs, one in each direction. The movement of pairs and boards after each round issimple, requiring no guide cards: "East-West go to the next-higher number table, North-Southpass the boards to the next-lower number table."

The boards to be played are divided evenly among the tables, the total number of boardsdetermining the length of the game. In figuring how many boards to put into play, allow for atleast eight minutes per board. Games that are taking to long to complete can be cut short afterany round, no harm in that.

There is a complication if the number of tables is even: After half the rounds have been played,East-West must skip a table in the normal upward progression. Otherwise they will meet boardsthey have already played. The number of rounds played will be one less than the number oftables, so an eight-table Mitchell movement will have seven rounds and each pair will missplaying one set of boards. With an odd number of tables the East-West progression is completelyregular, with all boards played by everyone.

An "anti-seeding" approach is popular in some circles, with stronger pairs playing North-Southand weaker pairs East-West. Since each direction has a winner, the weaker players have a betterchance.

13.2

Doop

Doop is a duplicate bridge game for two pairs, in which pre-dealt hands are played. Sessions(usually 26 deals) are based on the actual hands and matchpoint scores from ACBL Regional andNational championships. For each deal, a partnership receives the matchpoint score that theirresult would have achieved in the actual tournament. The basic set of hands ($30 at present)includes instructions, the devices and packs required, and hand records for four sessions of play.Additional deals are available through refills, each of which includes eight additional sessions($10 at present). Doop never becomes obsolete, with new deals published regularly.

Intermediate-level instructional series of deals are also available, prepared by experts (16 deals,with a 24-page booklet analyzing each hand, $5 at present).

Doop is an excellent tool for becoming acquainted with the concepts of duplicate bridge withoutthe necessity of purchasing duplicate boards. With only four persons participating, there is nopressure on anyone. Comparing scores with those achieved in actual ACBL tournaments ishighly instructive, although sometimes humbling.

Doop is available from the sources referenced in Chapter 16, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIESFOR DUPLICATE BRIDGE.

14.1

14DUPLICATE GAMES FOR TEAMS-0F-FOUR

A team-of-four contest is generally regarded as the most thorough test of bridge skill. Ateam-of-four may consist of five or even six players, playing four at a time. Five and six-personteams are usually formed only for multi-session play, with just four members scheduled toparticipate in each session.

For each deal, one pair of the team sits North-South against an East-West pair from the opposingteam. Their teammates sit East-West for the same deal against the North-South pair of theopposing team. The element of luck therefore plays a small role. Success is determined by whichteam scores the most total points on the deal.

IMP Head-to-Head Matches

In expert circles, social bridge is increasingly taking the form of team-of-four competitionbetween two teams playing duplicate bridge, with stakes based on International Matchpoint(IMP) scores. If possible, the two tables should be located in separate rooms, exchanging theirhalf of the boards when they are completed. For each session of play, the game is divided into"halves," with teammates meeting to determine scores halfway through the session. The pairs ofone team switch tables for the second half, so that each pair gets to play against both opposingpairs. A session of play may comprise any number of deals consistent with the speed, ability, andendurance of the participants. It is also quite possible to have multiple sessions.

There is no reason why this form of competition cannot be played with non-expert participants.The scoring for IMP matches is described in Chapter 11, SOCIAL DUPLICATE BRIDGE.

Round-Robin Matches

Three teams-of-four can compete simultaneously in a single session of duplicate bridge by usinga round-robin concept. For a 24-board contest boards, boards 1-6 are placed on Table 1, 7-12 onTable 2, and 8-18 on Table 3, with East-West pairs playing at either of the two tables notoccupied by their North-South teammates. At the completion of play, the East-West players carrythe boards played to their North-South teammates at their "home" table and proceed to the tablewhere they have not yet played.

After the second round of play, teammates meet to compare scores achieved against the other twoteams (six deals against each team).The same procedure is used for the second half of the contest.

14.2

At the end of the session, each team will have played 12 boards against each of the other twoteams. Depending on the time to be devoted to the competition, and perhaps on the skill level ofparticipants, the number of boards per round can be decreased to five or increased to seven (20 or28 boards in all instead of 24).

Four teams make for a simpler round-robin, with each team playing separate matches against theother three. If eight boards are played per match, the round-robin will entail 24 boards in all, agood number for a single session of play.

Round-robin matches are not feasible for a greater number of teams unless multiple sessions ofplay are planned.

Almost any type of scoring described in Chapter 1, RUBBER BRIDGE, can be used forround-robins: Board-a-Match, IMPs, or Victory Points.

Knockout Teams

Knockout team contests are played like tennis matches, with losers dropping out of thecompetition after every match and winners meeting winners on the next round. As in a tennismatch, strong teams may be seeded at opposite ends of the brackets that diagram the matches tobe held, thereby maximizing the probability that the two strongest teams will meet in the finals.Alternatively, a random draw can be used, giving weaker teams a better chance of surviving for around or two. If the number of teams is not a power of 2 (e.g., 8 or 16), one or more top seededteams are given a "bye" for the first round of play, automatically advancing to the next higherbracket.

While knockout teams are not popular outside of American Contract Bridge League (ACBL)events, one can think of occasions when this type of competition would be appropriate in socialbridge (e.g., a month-long contest among teams formed from members of a country club).

Scoring for knockout team events is now universally based on IMPs, with total point scoring athing of the past.

Board-A-Match Teams

This type of game has each team playing two or more one-board "matches" with other teams. Foreach deal played, a team wins, loses, or ties, thereby getting 1, 0, or 1/2 Matchpoints. Board-a-match is a real test of card-playing skill and low-level competitive bidding ability, since even aten-point difference can win a board. In a contest of any length, the more skillful teams rise tothe top like cream. As a corollary, it is very uncommon for an underdog team to get lucky andwin a board-a-match event.

14.3

Teams play each other in round-robin fashion, with the number of boards played in each matchdependent upon the number of matches to be played and the time available to do so. Each table ina match relays boards with the other table until both tables have played all boards. Teammembers then meet to compare scores and see how many Matchpoints the team has won for theround, before proceeding to play the next opponents. After the round-robin is complete, theteam with the most Matchpoints wins.

This informal round-robin method is suitable only for eight or fewer teams. Largerboard-a-match events have prescribed directions for moving players and boards after each roundof play, so that shuffling is necessary only for the first round. These are beyond the scope of thisbook, especially since this type of bridge is unlikely to interest social players.

Swiss Teams

This game is similar to the method used for many years in major chess tournaments when therewas not enough time for a complete round-robin. In bridge, teams meet for short matches (six orseven boards). Teams are matched by draw for the first round of play. On the second roundwinners meet winners and losers meet losers. Thereafter pairings are based on overall records,highest team meeting next highest and so on, except that teams may not play a second matchagainst each other. Since enough matches must be scheduled to obtain a significant win-lossrecord, usually two sessions of play are desirable.

It is usual to consider a win by only one or two IMPs as a 3/4 win, with the loser credited with1/4 win. An alternate method of scoring uses a Victory Point schedule. Pairings are then based onVictory Points instead of win-loss records. Chapter 5 includes a Victory Point schedule that is incommon use.

Swiss teams are very popular with weaker players, since they tend to meet each other early in theevent while strong teams are knocking each other off. This approach gives the weaker teams achance to be in there at the end.

An odd number of teams can be a problem. There are solutions, but it is better to avoidcomplications by arranging for an even number of teams. How many? At least 32 teams areneeded for a meaningful contest, too many for most social events. We have described Swissteams only to make the description of team games complete.

14.4

Marvin's Team Game - Six Pair Round-Robin Competition

This is an entertaining contest for three tables of players consisting of fixed partnerships. The sixpairs can form fifteen different teams-of-four. Each pair can play on five of the possible teams(formed with each of the other pairs). These five teams play mini-matches against the ten otherteams, using duplicate boards. Playing two matches per round requires five rounds. Each matchis four deals, so everyone plays eight boards a round, making 40 boards in all, too many for oneplay-through session.

One possible plan: Start competition in the middle of the afternoon, break for food after tworounds, then play the last three rounds. Each round should take no more than one hour. Allow 15minutes between rounds 1-2 , 2-3, and 4-5 for scoring, bathroom, smoking, etc., and one hourbetween rounds 3-4 for eating and socializing. That makes about six hours and 45 minutes, sayseven hours. If you start at 3:30 PM, you eat about 7:00 PM and finish about 10:30 PM. It takestime to get organized and give instructions, and some people will be late, so schedule the time ofarrival for 3:00 PM.

A shorter game can be held by playing six-board matches (30 boards in all) or even four-boardmatches (20 boards in all), although the latter’s matches are really too short. Alternatively, a six-board match could be shortened by just quitting at a certain point.

Suggested for food: Hors d'oeuvres during play, buffet dinner, dessert and coffee anytime afterthat. The emphasis should be on self-service unless a servant is available.

Scoring is either board-a-match (win, tie, or lose each hand, thereby scoring a 1, 1/2, or 0 foreach hand) or International Matchpoints (IMPs). Board-a-match is easier for inexperiencedplayers to score, but IMPs make for a more interesting contest. Weaker teams have a slightlybetter chance of getting lucky with IMP scoring than with board-a-match, and ties are rare. Sincethe matches are so short, a Victory Point schedule based on IMPs won can be created tominimize the effect of slam swings (slam bid at one table, not at the other) and unusually bigIMP scores. Alternatively, matches could result in 3/4 wins for close scores (1-2 IMPs), giving1/4 win to the loser, as Swiss teams usually do for win-loss scoring.

First prize goes to the pair winning the most matches. Second prize goes to the pair winning mostpoints overall. If the prize is money (no doubt anted up by all at the start), a suggestion is 60%for first prize, 40% for second prize. No more than one prize per pair, so first-prize winners areineligible for second prize. If Victory Point scoring is used, then first and second prizes are basedon Victory Points only.

14.5

Pair Numbers and Team Members

After establishing who is the stationary pair 1, draw for the other pair numbers, and record thetwo names of each pair after their pair number.

The following schedule of play allows for one stationary pair (North-South at Table 1), while allother pairs move and play North-South twice, East-West three times. Each pair meets everyother pair twice during the competition. The stationary pair might be the host/hostess (near thekitchen?) or a pair that has a physical limitation.

Round 1: NS/EW Round 2: NS/EW

Team 1 - Pairs 1/2 Team 4 - Pairs 1/3Team 2 - Pairs 3/4 Team 5 - Pairs 4/6Team 3 - Pairs 6/5 Team 6 - Pairs 5/2

Round 3: NS/EW Round 4: NS/EW Team 7 - Pairs 1/4 Team 10 - Pairs 1/5Team 8 - Pairs 5/3 Team 11 - Pairs 2/4 Team 9 - Pairs 2/6 Team 12 - Pairs 6/3

Round 5: NS/EW Team 13 - Pairs 1/6 Team 14 - Pairs 3/2 Team 15 - Pairs 4/5

General Instructions

Four pencils, individual score cards, and the correct boards should be on the tables beforestarting.

East-West pairs start at the next higher table than their North-South teammates.

East-West has the right to require North-South to select seats (i.e., who is North, who is South)before taking their seats.

At the start of each round, determine that the boards and opponents are correct, then shuffle andplay.

14.6

Play the boards on the table, then pass boards to next lower number table. (Table 3 is "below"Table 1), East-West move to next higher number table (Table 1 is "above" Table 3). Check forcorrect boards and opponents (but don't shuffle!), then play the next group of boards.

After playing the two matches of a round, teammates meet to determine the scores for each of thetwo four-board matches. A net score is computed for each board by adding the plus or minusscore for each pair on that hand (e.g., -140 for one pair, +110 for the other, yields a -30 teamscore on the board.

For board-a-match scoring, a net plus wins one matchpoint, a tie wins 1/2 matchpoint, and a netminus score gets nothing.

For IMP scoring, the score for each hand is obtained by looking up that score on the IMP scoringtable. For a net plus, the IMP score is positive; for a net minus, the IMP score is negative. Ateam's total IMP score for the match is obtained by subtracting IMPs lost from IMPs won. Whenrecording team wins and losses, an optional method is to score a win of only one or two IMPs asa 3/4 win, giving 1/4 win to the loser. Another option is to convert IMP scores to Victory Points,as described in Chapter 11, SOCIAL DUPLICATE BRIDGE.

One team member reports the team's results for each of the two matches to the person acting asscorekeeper, who verifies that the scores received from both teams in each match are inagreement.

At start of the second and succeeding rounds, the correct boards are on Tables 1 and 2 (left over from the preceding round). Table 3 must exchange boards with a "bye stand" holding the fourboards that were not in play on the previous round. Using sixteen boards ensures that allvulnerabilities are represented for all dealer positions (although perhaps not equally for eachpair).

The following pages provide detailed instructions.

14.7

Round 1 (8-board matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played

1-2 1 1-4 vs Team 3 5-8 vs Team 2 3-4 2 5-8 vs Team 1 9-12 vs Team 3 6-5 3 9-12 vs Team 2 1-4 vs Team 1 Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 1-4 vs Pair 5 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 4 EW Table 2 Pair 3 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 2 EW Pair 3 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 5 EW Table 3 Pair 6 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 4 EW Pair 6 NS Boards 1-4 vs Pair 2 EW

Boards 13-16 on a bye stand near Table 3

Round 1 (6-board matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played

1-2 1 1-3 vs Team 3 4-6 vs Team 2 3-4 2 4-6 vs Team 1 7-9 vs Team 3 6-5 3 7-9 vs Team 2 1-3 vs Team 1 Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 1-3 vs Pair 5 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 4-6 vs Pair 4 EW Table 2 Pair 3 NS Boards 4-6 vs Pair 2 EW Pair 3 NS Boards 7-9 vs Pair 5 EW Table 3 Pair 6 NS Boards 7-9 vs Pair 4 EW Pair 6 NS Boards 1-3 vs Pair 2 EW

Boards 10-12 on a bye stand near Table 3

14.8

Round 2 (8-board matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played

1-3 4 5-8 vs Team 6 9-12 vs Team 5 4-6 5 9-12 vs Team 4 13-16 vs Team 6 5-2 6 13-16 vs Team 5 5-8 vs Team 4

Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 2 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 6 EW Table 2 Pair 4 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 3 EW Pair 4 NS Boards 13-16 vs Pair 2 EW Table 3 Pair 5 NS Boards 13-16 vs Pair 6 EW Pair 5 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 3 EW

Boards 1-4 on a bye stand near Table 3

Round 2 (6-board matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played

1-3 4 4-6 vs Team 6 7-9 vs Team 5 4-6 5 7-9 vs Team 4 10-12 vs Team 6 5-2 6 10-12 vs Team 5 4-6 vs Team 4

Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 2 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 6 EW Table 2 Pair 4 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 3 EW Pair 4 NS Boards 13-16 vs Pair 2 EW Table 3 Pair 5 NS Boards 13-16 vs Pair 6 EW Pair 5 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 3 EW

Boards 1-3 on a bye stand near Table 3

14.9

Round 3 (8-boar matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played 1-4 7 9-12 vs Team 9 13-16 vs Team 8 5-3 8 13-16 vs Team 7 1-4 vs Team 9 2-6 9 1-4 vs Team 8 9-12 vs Team 7

Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 6 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 13-16 vs Pair 3 EW Table 2 Pair 5 NS Boards 13-16 vs Pair 4 EW Pair 5 NS Boards 1-4 vs Pair 6 EW Table 3 Pair 2 NS Boards 1-4 vs Pair 3 EW Pair 2 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 4 EW

Boards 5-8 on a bye stand near Table 3.

Round 3 (6-board matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played 1-4 7 7 -9 vs Team 9 10-12 vs Team 8 5-3 8 10-12 vs Team 7 1-3 vs Team 9 2-6 9 1-3 vs Team 8 7-9 vs Team 7

Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 7-9 vs Pair 6 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 10-12 vs Pair 3 EW Table 2 Pair 5 NS Boards 10-12 vs Pair 4 EW Pair 5 NS Boards 1-3 vs Pair 6 EW Table 3 Pair 2 NS Boards 1-3 vs Pair 3 EW Pair 2 NS Boards 7-9 vs Pair 4 EW

Boards 4-6 on a bye stand near Table 3.

14.10

Round 4 (8-board matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played

1-5 10 13-16 vs Team 12 1-4 vs Team 11 2-4 11 1-4 vs Team 10 5-8 vs Team 12 6-3 12 5-8 vs Team 11 13-16 vs Team 10

Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 13-16 vs Pair 3 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 1-4 vs Pair 4 EW Table 2 Pair 2 NS Boards 1-4 vs Pair 5 EW Pair 2 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 3 EW Table 3 Pair 6 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 4 EW Pair 6 NS Boards 13-16 vs Pair 5 EW

Boards 9-12 on a bye stand near Table 3.

Round 4 (8-board matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played

1-5 10 9-12 vs Team 12 1-3 vs Team 11 2-4 11 1-3 vs Team 10 4-6 vs Team 12 6-3 12 4-6 vs Team 11 9-12 vs Team 10

Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 3 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 1-3 vs Pair 4 EW Table 2 Pair 2 NS Boards 1-3 vs Pair 5 EW Pair 2 NS Boards 4-6 vs Pair 3 EW Table 3 Pair 6 NS Boards 4-6 vs Pair 4 EW Pair 6 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 5 EW

Boards 7-9 on a bye stand near Table 3.

14.11

Round 5 (8-board matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played

1-6 13 1-4 vs Team 15 5-8 vs Team 14 3-2 14 5-8 vs Team 13 9-12 vs Team 15 4-5 15 9-12 vs Team 14 1-4 vs Team 13

Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 1-4 vs Pair 5 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 2 EW Table 2 Pair 3 NS Boards 5-8 vs Pair 6 EW Pair 3 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 5 EW Table 3 Pair 4 NS Boards 9-12 vs Pair 2 EW Pair 4 NS Boards 1-4 vs Pair 6 EW

Boards 13-16 can be put away.

Round 5 (6-board matches)

NS/EW Boards Pairs Team No. Played

1-6 13 1-3 vs Team 15 4-6 vs Team 14 3-2 14 4-6 vs Team 13 7-9 vs Team 15 4-5 15 7-9 vs Team 14 1-3 vs Team 13

Table 1 Pair 1 NS Boards 1-3 vs Pair 5 EW Pair 1 NS Boards 4-6 vs Pair 2 EW Table 2 Pair 3 NS Boards 4-6 vs Pair 6 EW Pair 3 NS Boards 7-9 vs Pair 5 EW Table 3 Pair 4 NS Boards 7-9 vs Pair 2 EW Pair 4 NS Boards 1-3 vs Pair 6 EW

Boards 10-12 can be put away..

14.12

Recording Results

The scorekeeper records the reported scores for each round, both wins/losses and net scores,using tables similar to those below.

Wins and Losses

Pair Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Total

1

2

3

4

5

6

Net Points Won

Pair Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Total

1

2

3

4

5

6

If Victory Point scoring is used, there will be only one result to record for each team per roundinstead of win/loss and net points

15.1

15CALCUTTAS

A Calcutta game starts with an auctioning off of each contestant, which can be a person or a pairdepending on the type of bridge game to be played. When the entrants have been determined, anauctioneer asks for bids on each one. Bidders may be spectators or players. The money raisedgoes into a pool to be distributed to the "owner(s)" of the winning contestants. Usually some sideprizes are awarded directly to the contestants, to provide incentive to those who do not ownthemselves or a piece of themselves. A portion of the pool can go to a designated charity. Makingthe Calcutta a fund-raiser for charity may sidestep any local gambling laws that could otherwiseapply.

All entrants are seeded according to ability before the bidding starts, with a number of the lowestranked entrants lumped together as one entry ("the field") for bidding purposes. Including a fieldentry avoids the embarrassment of being the bottom seed. Whoever owns the field wins if anyone contestant within the field succeeds in the contest. The prospective bidders should be givenan ordered list of the seeded entries and a copy of the Calcutta's rules.

The entries are auctioned off in the order of highest seed to lowest seed (the field). There is a lotof guesswork involved in determining how much money will be in the total pool. It oftenhappens that a high seed goes for a bid that was quite a bargain based on the later bidding forweaker entries. Many bidders will hang back at first, waiting to see how much money is comingin. Then, not wanting to miss out on the action entirely, they may bid too much (based on theodds of winning) for lower seeded con-testate. Or, instead of bidding, they will go to the previous bid winners and offer to buy them outfor more money than they paid, or to buy a percentage of the owner's interest. Such jockeying andbargaining is a large part of the fun in a Calcutta. The pool of money obtained from successfulbidders can be divided in any pre-announced logical manner, (e.g., 60% for first place, 30% forsecond, and 10% for third).

A person owning an entry must, if asked, sell part of his/her interest to a player representing theentry. The price paid is based on the owner's cost. The maximum percentage a player may buy isone-half the percentage that the player represents in the entry (e.g., a player in a fixed pair gamecan buy up to a 25% share, since he/she is one-half of the entry).

One problem with Calcuttas is the matter of ethics. Suppose you come up against a contestantthat you have bought, at a time when you have no chance of winning yourself. Would you betempted to incur a deliberately bad result in order to benefit "your" entry? Owners must be

15.2

cautioned in advance that results against those in which they have an interest will be closelyscrutinized. If an unusual adverse result cannot be rationalized away by the owner, he/she may bedisqualified from sharing in the pool. The best solution is to invite only highly ethical people toparticipate in a Calcutta, those who will play their best, not their worst, against an entry in whichthey have an interest.

The type of game played in a Calcutta is usually duplicate bridge, but there is no reason whysome version of party bridge cannot be used. The Swiss Pair game described in Chapter 4,GAMES FOR FIXED PARTNERSHIPS, would be a good choice.

Calcuttas are well-suited to a sport or country club, perhaps deeming the game to be a clubchampionship. Non-playing members will enjoy bidding for ownership of their favorite playersand maybe kibitzing the play. The excitement can be increased for spectators and players alike if"barometer" scoring is used, announcing the standings of all contestants after each round of play

16.1

16EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR DUPLICATE BRIDGE

The equipment needed for duplicate bridge is not extensive. Most of it can be used over and overagain, so the amortized cost is very little.

Card tables should have a hard surface suitable for writing on a single thickness of paper. Apopular solution to tabletop crowding is the use of two small side tables at opposite corners, onwhich players can put drinks and food.

A set of duplicate boards - At least 16, enough for most home games, so that each of the fourdealer positions may be assigned all four possible vulnerability situations. The ACBL sells a setof four boards for $8.95, 32 boards for $54.95.

Good cards - One pack per duplicate board

Traveling scoreslip sheets - For matchpoint individual or pair games. Available from the ACBLin pads of 200 for $3.

Recapitulation ("recap") sheets - For totaling scores in matchpoint individual or pair games.Available from the ACBL in pads of 50 for $4.95

Guide cards - Player table-changing directions, when not using oral instructions

Convention/private score cards - Optional for home games. The individual scoring side of theACBL's convention card is an excellent form for recording scores and is useful if only for thatpurpose. It includes the scale for converting net scores to international Matchpoint (IMP) scores.A simple version is available in quantity from the ACBL at a cost of $4.95 per 100.

Table markers - Identifying each table's number. Homemade will do.

Bidding boxes (optional, but trendy) - These have become more and more common intournament play, and in fact are mandatory for regional and national championships of theAmerican Contract Bridge League. Figure 16.1 is a bidding box of standard design. The X card isfor a double, XX for redouble. The S and A cards have special uses. There are multiple cards forcalls that might be repeated (pass, double, redouble), and one card for each possible bid, fromone club to seven notrump.

16.2

Figure 16.1. Bidding Box

Each player has a box of cards to his/her right that are marked with the possible calls: pass,double, redouble, all bids, and several special-purpose cards. A call is made by placing theappropriate card on the table in front of the player. The second and succeeding calls of eachplayer only partially overlap the previous calls, so a "review of the bidding" entails only a look atthe bidding cards around the table. When the bidding is over, the cards are replaced in the boxand play begins. The process is simpler in practice than in the description.

Figure 16.2 shows several bid cards placed in front of a player so that opponents can read them.Each succeeding call is placed on the preceding one, working from left to right.

Figure 16.2. Bidding Cards Placed on the Table

16.3

While it takes a little time to get used to bidding boxes, and they might seem a bit stuffy forsocial games, they have a number of advantages:

-- Calls made during the auction are never misunderstood, and the final contract (undoubled,doubled, or redoubled) is unlikely to become a matter of dispute.

-- Informative bidding tone or volume, all too prevalent in social games (and illegal), iseliminated.

-- Rooms with multiple tables in play are much quieter.

-- Players with hearing problems (which they may not admit to), language difficulties, or speechimpediments are accommodated.

-- Bidding cannot be overheard by players who have not yet played that deal. Bidding boxes are available from the American Contract Bridge league (ACBL), address below.The classic version costs $34.95 for a set of 4, while a pocket-size portable version forindividuals is $10.95.

Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge, May 27, 1997 revision - Laws for duplicate bridge differ insome important respects from the laws of rubber bridge, which should not be used for a duplicatebridge contest. List price is $5.95 for paperback, $11.95 for hard cover.

For those new to duplicate bridge in the home, the ACBL offers a two-table kit in two versions,Basic ($27.95) and Deluxe ($39.95), with instructions on matchpointing, game setup, duplicateboards and cards, and much other equipment/supplies for a duplicate game.

Sources

Bridge supplies are available from the American Contract Bridge League, 2990 AirwaysBoulevard, Memphis, TN 38116-3847, www.acbl.org. Send for their free catalog or call toll-free800-264-2743. The catalog includes bridge books, instructional materials, and other items ofinterest for all bridge players. The ACBL will send the following materials (among others) freeon request:

-- Instant scorers - a card showing all possible duplicate scores: vulnerable, not vulnerable,undoubled, doubled, or redoubled. Up to 100 are free.

-- The Exciting World of Bridge - An introduction to duplicate bridge, tips on how the gameworks, scoring, etiquette, and how to fill out a convention card. Up to 10 copies are free.

16.4

Another source is Baron-Barclay Bridge Supplies, 3600 Chamberlain Lane, Suite 230, Louisville,KY 40241, toll-free number 1-800-274-2221, www.baronbarclay.com. They have a wideselection of new and popular bridge books, and also have a free catalog.

For those with internet access, Richard Pavlicek’s website offers free access to printable materialfor the conduct of duplicate games. The URL is www. rpbridge.net. From there go to “The HomePage of Richard Pavlicek” and click on “Duplicate Forms.” The forms make running a duplicategame a cinch. Everything you need (except pencils and duplicate boards) is provided. All theduplicate forms are in PDF format, which requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print.This free software allows you to print the files on any printer with the same typeset layout as theoriginal. If you don’t already have it, Mr. Pavlicek provides a link to obtain it.